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9 Addresses on Various
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Answering the Question
Nov. 6, 1938 -Jan. I, 1939
by
REV. CHAS. E. COUGHLIN
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"^m / an
Anti-Semite?'
9 Addresses 021 Varioi^s
"isys"
A^isw&ring fhe Questioii
REV. CHAS. E. COUGHLSN
of the Shrine of fhe Liff-le Flower and
Brocsdcasf over a Notional Network
Nov. 6. 1938— Jon, 1. 1939
**^*4'*4»**4' 4^**4^ 4*4^* ****4»^»4«i'4"M'*^'3»4'^4''5'*'^'3''&^»**4^««**
Editors of newspapers and magazines are free
to reprint in such publications as much of this
book as they think desirable; any part of this book
may be used without charge in radio broadcast-
ing, public readings, speeches or recitations, pro-
vided, due credit is given the author. All other
rights, including motion pictures, the rights of
translation in foreign languages, and reproduc-
tions in printed form in this or any foreign coun-
try are strictly reserved.
Copyright 1939
by
REV. CHAS. E. COUGHLIN
Printed in the United States of America by
THE CONDON PRINTtNG CO., DETROIT
1
PREFACE
Our contest in America is to preseive Amer-
icanism and Christianity.
These nine discourses were delivered by Father
Couglilin over a private network of radio stations
which he rents at full commercial rates.
The expenses for Father Coughlin's under-
takings are defrayed by the contributions of the
radio audience.
Social Justice Magazine, of which Father
Coughlin is editorial director, supplements his
radio discourses by publishing every week 20
pages of editorial matter giving therein informa-
tion to a vast reading public — information not
available in the daily press.
You are earnestly solicited to enroll as a sub-
scriber as a token of appreciation for the receipt
of this book.
Address your letter to Father Coughlin at
Royal Oak, Michigan.
Contents
I. The Background of Christian Social Justice /
Thought for the Week. . 1/
A Prayer for the Week 19 ;
IL Our Christian Hope 20
Thought for the Week 30
A Prayer for Work 32
III. Persecution — Jewish and Christian 34
IV. Let Us Consider the Record 56
Thought for the Week 66
V. Not Anti-Semitism but Anti-Communism 70
VI. A Chapter on Intolerance , . . . . 89
VII. Is Christ the Messias ? 108
VIII. A Christmas Message . 122
IX. Americanism — Neither Naziism Nor Communism . . . 136
X, EncycUcal Letter, ''Atheistic Communism" 151
The Background of Christian
Social Justice
Stmdayf November 6, 195B
Good Afternoon, My Fkiends :
My return to the air is made possible only through your gra-
cious loyalty and support.
This is your broadcast, not mine. Every Sunday I will, ven-
ture to speak to you as long as you bid me welcome in your homes,
Properly, while I endeavor to expound the principles of Chris-
tian social justice, I shall also endeavor to show you how these
principles can be applied.
And just as properly, it will be my hope to bestir you to action
— Christian action, American action — for faith without good works
is dead.
Thus, at the outset, while I am deeply grateful to everyone of
you for the heroic sacrifices you have made, and will make, to keep
me on the air over this independent chain of radio stations, may I
ask you for one more favor today — the favor of a prayer to the
Holy Ghost. I beseech all of you to ask the spirit of understanding
to fill me with prudence; and the spirit of fortitude to give me
strength and courage to carry on the battle against the hidden
powers of darkness — perhaps not quite so hidden today as yes-
terday.
May I also suggest that you will ask your Httle children who
are ignorant of the causes of poverty, wretchedness and exploita-
tion — may I suggest that you ask these innocent children to whis-
per a prayer for one who fully recognizes how unworthy he is but
who fully realizes what a golden opportunity God has given to him
to be an instrument for good.
You are anxious to know what topics I shall discuss during the
ensuing year. Roundly spealdng, it is my hope that these addresses
will be concerned chiefly with Christian social justice.
[71
While my ultimate objective is to help more and more men to
save their immortal souls, I recognize how difficult it is for man to
practice Christian virtue, to live a holy life in peace and content-
ment, when he and a great group of his fellowmen are denied
unjustly an equitable share in the goods and wealth of this world
goods and wealth which our common Father in heaven bestowed
upon alt men for all men to use and enjoy — goods and wealth,
which, alas, have been concentrated in the hands of a few to the
detriment of the many because an un-Christian species of social
injustice was foisted upon us in the past few centuries and because,
as a result of this, an alien philosophy of social injustice, under the
name either of Communism or Naziism, is endeavoring to win our
allegiance today.
Fearlessly, Christian social justice challenges these several sys-
tems for the attention and the support, in this instance, of the
American public — a public composed of persons who, despite their
many faults and shortcomings, will never surrender the heritage of
Bethlehem, of Pilate's hall, of Calvary Hill or of the Easter morn-
ing sepulchre from whose empty depths there echo and re-echo
the immortal words, "I am the Resurrection and the Life."
Fortified with these precious heritages it is our hope to carry
on a campaign of instruction and inspiration even though we find
ourselves opposed by the rugged individualists on the right and by
the unchristly radicals on the left. It is our hope to convert a
zealous band of followers into a group of active Christians— Chris-
tians who, by the sincerity of their lives and the logic of their doc-
trines shall win millions of followers who are convinced that there
is no way other than Christ's way for saving America and restor-
ing prosperity and peace for all.
My friends, at the outset, permit me to clarify tlie fundamental
doctrine of Christian social justice — the doctrine that differenti-
ates it from every other plan of life proposed for man to follow.
It is this : Christ came on earth not only to redeem and save indi-
viduals but also to establish an absolutely new social order. Rec-
ognizing the chaotic condition of society in His own time; aware
of the universal slavery practiced virtually by every nation ; and
conscious of the spiritual darkness which had encompassed every
kingdom, empire, republic and tribe, our Saviour well understood
that man, left to his natural abilities, was unable to acquire peace
and prosperity in this world and save his immortal soul in the here-
after.
[8]
Ample proofs for this were around Him,
Had not the old social order produced decay of virtue and
morals ? Despite its Socrates and Plato and Aristotle, had it not
spread physical disease and degeneration? Had not a godless natu-
ral social order succeeded in crumbling every organization tliat
the hand of man attempted to construct? Had it not multiplied
slavery and destroyed freedom? tiad it not warped the mental
vision of man to such a degree that he failed to glimpse the sunrise
of eternity beyond the grave? All this — the result of man's trying
to operate the world and its organization independent of God.
My friends, in your own minds dramatize the battle which
Christ waged against the prince of mental, physical, social and
spiritual death, the ruler of a godless social order. Visualize how
He went about supplanting the natural social order with a super-
natural order: For three years lie was content to publicize His
policies and His principles. Time after time Pie not only insisted
upon a supernatural life for man, contrary to that practiced by the
pagans, but He established the definite means by which the super-
natural life could be obtained ; definite means by which every in-
dividual, every organization, every principality, every nation could
look forward to better days and prosperity here with happiness
hereafter.
As Pius XI beautifully expresses it, "man was raised by the
power and the gift of God to the dignity of a son of God, and in-
corporated into the kingdom of God in the Mystical Body of
Christ. In consequence, he has been endowed by God with many
and varied prerogatives; the right to life, to bodily integrity, to
the necessary means of existence ; the right to tend towards his
ultimate goal in the path marked out for him by God; the right of
:issociations and the right to possess and use property,"
That, my friends, was the fundamental principle of the new
social order established by Christ,
Though you oftentimes forget It you are no longer mere men
and women, simple creatures left alone to battle against a vicious
tiature with its national storms and international tempests. You
;ire members of the Mystical Body of which Christ is the head.
That is the new union, the new organization which Christ es-
1al>hshed to enable man to acquire peace and prosperity in this
world; and the happiness of heaven hereafter.
This is not mere rhetoric. This is reality.
[91
iT^s^rrrrm::
II _ .L^^^!^
Had not men from all times struggled in vain to possess ample
security against the devastating forces let loose in this world?
Had it not been the universal experience of mankind that the at-
tainment of this objective was impossible? This was the Creator's
answer to the problem.
Who will contend that Christ did not have an absolute right
to proclaim Himself King and establish this new organization?
The world was His already through the title of creation. It is His
through the second title of redemption even in a stricter sense than
India belongs to England through the title of conquest.
My friends and fellow citizens, it is true that you establish your
own earthly go^'-ernments. But it is likewise true that every gov-
ernment set up by man becomes a rebel government if it denies
Christ a place on the throne. Therefore, against the laws promul-
gated by Christ the King, no earthly monarch, no president, no
parliament, no congress dares legislate. And against the economic
and social principles laid down by Christ, no group of professors
or parliamentarians may establish other principles except at the
cost of disaster.
Unfortunatelvj we have witnessed in our historical studies a
constant effort on the part of those who are hostile to Christ to
force his abdication. They maintained that His mission was to
individuals and not to society, They asserted that His place was in
the tabernacle and not in halls of government. They demanded
that He remain within the gray walls of an empty church and not
walk in the fields with the farmer and stand in the factory with
the laborer.
.. Let me outline for you the chapters of history which, first,
describe the growth of this new social order and, then, tell how
unchristly men succeeded in dethroning the King to the detriment
of civilization.
This history begins with the story of the inspired apostles.
Without arms and supported by no legions, their only sword being
the uplifted cross, they marched upon decadent Rome, won thou-
sands of converts to their cause—converts from the ranks of the
galley slaves, converts from the oppressed millions of the plebians
and converts from the noblemen of the patrician class.
It is true that these early Christians suffered martyrdom by
the millions. But it is likewise true that within three hundred years
Constantine, the Roman emperor, accepted the new social order
I 10 1
ijf Jesus Christ because he was convinced of its practicality and
soundness.
Slowly, at first; then with giant strides over the mountains of
opposition and through the valleys of error marched a Basil and a
Jerome, an Augustine and a Gregory, a Hildebrand and a Bernard,
and finally, a Francis, a Dominic, a Thomas and an Ignatius until,
by the 13th Century,Ve view an Europe solidly following the ban-
ner of the cross with its nations and its principalities and its trades-
men organized in solidified groups for the common good of all —
groups that regarded themselves as the members of the Mystical
Body of Christ ; groups that regarded Christ as their supreme King
and Legislator.
Those were the days when there was plenty in the midst of
want.
Alas, ours are the days when there is want amidst plenty.
Why do I so characterize our days ?
That is the story which the following chapters of history will
(ell.
Beginning with the 14th Century prosperous princes and mer-
chants became beset with the vice of greed. Refusing to attribute
lo Christ and His policies the prosperity which they enjoyed; and
refusing to curtail their activities by the limitations of Christian
laws, they began to deny the brotherhood of man and corrupt the
t'hristian organizations of tradesmen. Gradually usury and its
(Consequent slavery and international wars made their re-appear-
nnce. And, finally, rulers began to conceive the idea that the world
could get along without Christ in its commerce and business ; for
Christ's place was in the church and not in the marts of men,
so they said.
For more than two centuries government and business and
t(;mmerce were conducted on this non-Christian principle. Once;
more the imperialism of ancient Rome, in a new form, began to
concentrate wealth and multiply poverty when kings made laws
for the protection of the strong — laws that welded shackles upon
Hie oppressed masses.
It Avas only a matter of time until the exploited millions rose
HI protest against this un-Christian bondage. That they had a
I ight to do so no one denies. But that they had a right to follo\y
l<-;Lders hke Jean Jacques Rosseau, no one with sanity affirms.'
Thus, in 1789 the disciples of this erratic philosopher published a
document known as the "Rights of Man." Already the idea that
t hrist was King, that Christ's place was in the market place, the
cdurts, the banking houses and the government as well as in the
[11]
church and the pulpit had been lost sight of by too many people.
They were people who had been conditioned by the neglect of their
proper leaders ; people who^ because of this neglect, were suitable
soil in which the new seeds of naturalism could take root when,
for the first time, they heard the magic words of libertyj equality
and fratei'nity proposed to them on the same basis with which
Spartacus appealed to his slave followers— a basis of naturalism
divorced from God.
And so the document entitled "The Rights of Man" was read
avidly by the mobs of Paris. Its sophistry, like a wolf clothed in
the sheep's clothing of fine rhetoric, was echoed and re-echoed
throughout France. Not that liberty and equality and fraternity,
viewed in themselves, were not and are not desirable. But behind
these unctions words there was the theory that the social doctrines
of Christ were responsible for the suffering undergone by the
people. "Henceforward/' said they, ''the social doctrines of hu-
manity must supplant the obsolete social teachings of Christ."
In fine, the "Rights of Man" was accepted by the revolution-
aries. Christ was dethroned; His crown of kingship once more
became a crown of thorns. And a new king was set upon the
throne of Notre Dame in Paris — the king symbolizing the magic
of numbers, the new king which said, "mankind is king and the
majority opinion shall prevail."
How illogical was this decision? Christ in Pilate's hall was
outnumbered seventy-tv^o to one. Did the magic of numbers in
that instance prove that the Master was a blasphemer; prove
that Caiphas and Annas and the Sanhedrin were justified in de-
luanding His death?
The French Revolution, although justified, I repeat, was not
justified in turning back the wheel of time from the supernatural
order established by Christ to the pagan natural order estab-
lished by those who hated Christ — an order which had proven
to be so disastrous before the birth of our King.
For two centuries the philosophy of the French Revolution
rviled the world. Temperate and moderate after its initial Up-
heaval, its leaders and followers were content to treat Christ
and Christianity on a par with every cult as long as Christian
leaders refrained from tampering with the so-calied progress of
the world and refrained from attempting to incorporate in the
social life of the world the doctrines which were spoken on the
hillside of Palestine nearly two thousand years before.
But, as to be expected, the Rosseau philosophy of naturalism,
despite its objectives of liberty, equality and fraternity, proved
[12]
no more beneficent in our times than before the time of Christ.
Napoleonic wars crimsoned Europe with the best blood of its
citizens. Death and devastation wrote their records in India, in
Crimea, in America, in South Africa, until our children began
to beheve that the study of history meant no more than
the study of war and destruction.
Meanwhile, although a Fulton and an Arkwrite and an
Edison, with their contemporaries, unveiled the secrets of nature
for the multiplication of wealth, we find that wealth still became
accumulated in the hands of a few and that the masses of
Europe and America, not to mention Africa and Asia, were no
better off than were the outraged citizens of Paris who stoned
the Bastille in protest against the Bourbons of old.
All during this time the world labored under the delusion
of the magic of numbers. All during this time England and
f^ ranee and America, through their representative governments,
religiously kept religion out of government and fanatically de-
nied the entrance of Christ's principles into economy, business
industry and agricuUure. '
Eventually, the inevitable catastrophe arrived in 1914. Event-
ually, the fruits of this naturalism were apparent on the fields
of Flanders and on the hillsides of France where milhons of
young men laid down their lives for the fiction of preserving a
social order from which Christ had been expelled.
It was not until 1917, when one nation, more logical minded
than the others,^ followed to its ugly conclusion the principle
of naturalism. "If God has no place in business or in govern-
ment or in economy; if His principles are detrimental to the
activities of society, then let us drive God and all His trappings
from the hearts of the citizens— citizens who belong to the state
the new god who has supplanted the Christ of old."
My friends, I have touched but lightly upon the chief his-
torical movements which trace the rise of Christ's new social
order from the catacombs through Constantine to the glories of
the 13th Century. I have traced rapidly the decline not of prin-
lyples of the social order of Christ, but of the human race from
(lie 14th through to the 20th Century. Those who believed they
Eiad more wisdom than the God Incarnate preferred to work out
the destiny of the human race divorced from Christ and wedded
u^ the disproven philosophy of naturalism^naturalism in gov-
n-nment, naturalism m business, naturalism in education.
It is understanable why Karl Marx and his Communism
rame into being— just as understandable as why the French
113 1
revolutionists chanted their Marseillaise; for one error uncor-
rected always begets a worse.
And it is understandable why Naziism, with its complex for
persecution and its deification of the state, is sweeping; Commun-
ism from the confines of Europe because men will never rest
in peace when they are forced to live under an unsound system
either of government or of economy.
Yesterday Communism; today Naziism; tomorrow— chaos —
unless Christ is re-enthroned.
During these broadcasts I do not intend to confine myself
to such abstract and generic addre.^ses as is this. It is my intent
to be concrete and to apply, to the best of my ability, the social
principles of Jesus Christ to the social life of the United States.
This means that it is necessary for us to solidify and strengthen
a virile, closely woven Christian Front.. This means that we will
be glad to be characterized as intolerant— intolerant, not of men
whom we wish to convert, but of error and false principles with
which we refuse to consort.
Had we Christians one-tenth of the zeal that burns in the
hearts of the disciples of Karl A-Iarx this would be a different
world today. Long ago we would have carried our King in
triumph into the factory where economic slavery reigns; into
the market place where dishonesty prospers; into the banking
house where usury thrives and into the classrooms of our schools
and universities where error rides rampant over the souls of our
children.
The World War with its tragedy, its loss and its destruction
would not have been chronicled upon the pages of our history.
And this week we would not be celebrating an Armistice that
is not an armistice in the sense that it is the termination of wars.
What were the residts of that last World War? The world
certainly was not made safe for democracy. It was made safe
for Communism. Even America has been made the haven of
radicals with their un-American, unchristian philosophy.
Certainly, it was not a war to end wars. It was a war to
end Christianity. Certainly, it brought us no economic security.
It produced nothing but international disaster and suffering at
a cost of more than $100-billion and 40-million human casual-
ties not including the broken hearts of mothers and children.
It has been estimated that if the cost of the World War had been
expended, not upon destruction, but upon production, we Ameri-
cans could build a home costing $2,500 on a five acre plot of
114]
ground costing $100.00 an acre— a home with a thousand dollars
worth of furniture in it free from all encumbrances for every
family residing not only in America, but for every family re-
siding in Russia, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Holland,
Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland, Australia and Canada as well
as the United States.
More than that, out of the cost that was used to destroy 40-
million men and upset the world religiously, socially, and eco-
nomically, we could go into every community of 20,000 popula-
tion or more, throughout the world to build a $2-million library,
a $3-miIlion hospital and a $10-million university in every com-
munity.
And after doing that we would have had enough money left
over so that if we invested it wisely, according to the pattern
of capitalism, we would have enough returns to pay a salary of
$1,000 each to 125,000 school teachers and 125,000 nurses for
the City of New York and a proportionate number for every
other city in the United States.
And the irony of it all is that on tlie eve of the twentieth
anniversary of the armistice the merchandisers of murder and
usury are concocting plans to destroy another 40-m:llion human
beings with the aid of governments who are still subservient to
the forces of naturalism.
In conclusion, my friends, let us be certain about this — at
least those of us who are devoted to re-establishing the social
order of Jestts Christ upon this earth: There can never be a
lasting armistice, never a lasting peace, never permanent security
and prosperity until the social order of Jesus Christ is re-estab-
hshed upon the face of the earth. Moreover, there can be no
armistice between Christianity and Communism or Communism's
illegitimate child, called Naziism.
Today you can choose your sides. Today you can be power-
ful enough to overcome Communism by moral force. Tomorrow
it may be necessary to use physical force. But it is certain that
there can be no compromise, no fictitious hand-shaking, no friend-
liness between the two philosophies of Qiristliness on the one
hand and christlessness on the other.
They of the next generation will be reading the history
(■ither of our success or of our failure as they celebrate not an
■ irmistice anniversary but a victory either for Christ or for chaos.
[15]
■■i^li
^'I am the Resurrection and the Life/' said Christ. Oh^ how
truthfully is He the Conqueror of death and of every vice and
disease attendant upon death 1
How truthfully is He the Life Eternal in heaven and the
Life of the social order here upon earth!
There can be no armisdce_ between Christ, the Life, and Anti-
christj the death ! ' ~ "^
16
A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
"And it came to pass afterwards that Jesus went into a city
that is called Nairn ; and there went with Him His disciples, and
a great multitude.
"And when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a
dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother; and she
was a widow : and a great multitude of the city was with her.
Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy to-
wards her, He said to her : 'Weep not.'
''And He came near and touched the bier. And they that
carried it, stood still. And He said : 'Young man, I say to thee,
arise.' And he that was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And
He gave him to his mother.
"And there came a fear on them all: and they glorified God
saying: 'A great prophet is risen up among us: and^ God hath
visited His people'."
Millions of aged mothers throughout the world still live to
mourn their sons whose lives were sacrificed in a war to end
wars and for an idle dream of keeping the world safe for
democracy.
In vain have many of them looked to their government for
something more than a band of red ribbon or a faded gold star
to commemorate their loss.
In vain millions of them have reaped the reward of insecurity
and poverty together with the pangs of broken hearts.
Oh, how forgetful governments are, once the last cannon
has dealt its death in the ranks of those whose business it is not
to argue, not to reason why, but only to obey, to do and die !
Mothers, the story of the widow of Naim is still your story.
Some day, when Gabriel's horn shall sound taps; some day,
when this battle of earthly hfe will have been terminated, you
will see through your tears the majestic form of Him Who is
the resurrection and the life walking down the highway of your
village, your town or your city. He will depart for a moment
to visit Flanders Fields or Armentieres or Chateau-Thierry.
Reverently He will stand by a decayed white cross which has
fallen upon a cold clod of ground. Mildly He will say: "Young
man, I say to thee, arise.^'
[17]
And from the grave long since desecrated by irreverence,
there wiU step forth your boy, oh white haired mother^ to ac-
company our Christ across the years to your outstretched arms.
As Cardinal Mercier once said: "Oh, Christian mothers, be
proud of your sons. Of all griefs, of all our human sorrows,
yours is perhaps the most worthy of veneration. 1 thini-: I be-
hold you in your affliction, but erect, standing at the side of the
Mother of Sorrows, at the foot of the Cross. Suffer us to offer
you not only our condolence, but our congratulation. Not all our
heroes obtain temporal honours in this world, but for ail we ex-
pect the immortal crown of the elect in the next. For this is
the virtue if a single act of perfect charity: it cancels a who]e
lifetime of sins. It transforms a sinful man into a saint."
And 3-ou }^oung mothers of this generation, learn from the
past. Recognize that in Christ alone can you place your hope—
the same Christ Who will repeat for every Christian mother the
story once enacted at Nairn in Palestine.
Some day He will prove to an incredulous world that love
is not time's fool. Some day we are quite sure that He will
give your boy back— bright, pure and beautiful. We know He
will but keep our own and His until we fall asleep. We knov.^
that He does not mean to break the strands reaching between
the here of this world and the there of eternity; for we believe-
in the immortality of the soui, the resurrection of the body fol-
lowing; the last taps when the last light of this world wilf have
been extin£["uished.
Ma]
A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Oh, Christ, our King, we adore Thee !
To Thee we pledge our fortunes and our lives.
Encompassed by the powers of darkness, we call on Thee for
light.
Straitened by the might of the evil one, a prostrate people
begs Thee for prompt assistance.
Of old Thou didst calm the waters of Genesereth,
Lord of hosts, bid peace descend upon the troubled waters
of our nation.
Of old Thou didst attend to the prayers of the lepers.
Oh, cleanse from us the social sores which fester in govern-
ment, industry and agriculture—yea, even in our homes !
Cleanse our lives from the sin of greed and free us from the
bondage of usury.
Of old Thou didst not refuse to barken to the prayer of the
pagan Jairus, whose child was dead.
We, too, have faith in Thee. AH else has failed.
Raise our country from the swamp of decay — a country that
hmguishes in mental corruption as it devises ways and means
io perpetuate want in the midst of plenty.
Oh, King Thoti art 1 Christ and Redeemer, have mercy upon
ns
In a world where once again Thou are buried in the tomb
ui neglect, arise, come forth and teach Thy chastened people
Iliat Thou art the resurrection and the life !
Give peace to those whose hearts are weary with life's un-
even struggle.
Give counsel to those who, forgetful of Thy justice and
( harity, rely upon the force of armaments and destrttction.
Give prosperity to those whose prayer is Thy prayer, "Give
lis this day our daily bread," Give them a frugal share in the
\\'falth and comforts of this world which Thou, our King, hast
Treated for all men to use.
Give courage to those whose hands are about to fling away
Thy cross.
Oh, Christ, give unity to those of us who proclaim Thy
divinity as we rally 'round Thy banner to oppose Thy foes, the
l"(^]lowers of Antichrist!
1191
Our Christian Hope
Sunday, November 13, 1938
Many of you are expecting me to comment upon the recent
elections. During the course o£ this address, some few words
will be spoken on that subject. Nevertheless, at the outset, it is
more essential for me to help you assemble in your minds some
basic principles which all Christians should accept before I be-
come specific; before I endeavor to apply them either to politics,
to industry^ to labor, to banl-cing or to any other phase of our
complex life.
We Christians have often heard it remarked that we belong
to the church militant— the fighting church. Simple-minded souls
are prone to think that our fighting is limited to the inordinate
movements of passion — pride, lust, sloth. They forget that our
fighting extends far beyond flesh and blood. They forget that
the consolidated forces of Christianity are destined to fight
against powers and principalities ; against the rulers in high
places.
The great St. Paul expressed this thought when he said:
"Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against princi-
palities and powers, against the rulers of the world, of this dark-
ness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places." (Eph.
vi; 12).
These rulers, these powers of darkness, certainly are well-
organized in this world of ours. Sometimes their organization
boldly finds expression in government which is either directly
opposed to God and to Christ; sometimes, in a more diplomatic
manner, as it were, the ritlers of the world of this darkness in-
directly fling their forces at the supernatural scheme of life origi-
nated by Christ. They minimize its importance. They preach tol-
erance toward error by advocating prudence— a false prudence in
our relation towards those who control our financial, or political,
or social destinies.
St. Paul calls this kind of prudence the "wisdom of the flesh"
and the 'Meath of the soul" because it is not subject to the law
of God, neither can it be. (Romans viii ; 7).
Leo XIII characterized this as cowardice although some
Christians regarded him as a radical for doing so; and although
120]
many more paid little heed to his pleas for reorganizing a strong,
courageous Christian Front.
Speaking particularly of Christian public servants such as
governors, legislators, judges — public servants who, it seems, are
more ambitious for personal political power and prestige than
for the Kingdom of Christ, Leo XIII said: "As to those men
who take part in public affairs, they should avoid with the very
utmost care two criminal excesses: so-called prudence and false
courage. Some there are, indeed, who maintain that it is not
opportune boldly to attack evil-doing in its might and when it is
in the ascendant, lest, as they say, opposition should exasperate
minds already hostile. Such men make it a matter of guess work
as to whether they are for the Church or against her. On the
rnie hand, they give themselves out as professing the Christian
faith, and yet wish that the Churcli should allow certain opinions,
;Lt variance with her teaching, to be spread abroad with im-
punity/'
Traceable to this criminal excess on the part of so-called
Christian public officials — kings, presidents, congressmen, gov-
^^rnors and judges — is the advance made by the rulers of the
powers of darkness — at least in part. (Encyclical letter, ''Sap.
c:hrist.")
At a later date, Pius X, recognizing the steady growth in
l>ower and prestige of those who are hostile to the Christian so-
cial order even in countries where Communism has not been yet
;iccepted as the scheme of hfe — at a later date this peerless Pon-
liif pleaded with the Christians throughout the world to set aside
Iheir apathy, their false prudence, their wisdom of the flesh.
The occasion of this plea was the beatification of Joan of Arc
on December 13, 1908. She was the saint sent to remind the
world of the supernatural political guidance of God and of the
(.'hristian organization of Europe which was the glory of the
I3th Century. Referring to her heroism as contrasted with
Ihe timidity of so many Christians in our day, Pius X said: 'Tn
our time more than ever before, the chief strength of the wicked
lies in the cowardice and weakness of good men. . . . AU the
strength of Satan's reign is due to the easy-going weakness of
rhristians. Oh I If I might ask the Divine Redeemer, as the
l>rophet Zachary did in spirit 'Where are these wounds in the
midst of Thy hands ?^ the answer would not be doubtful: 'With
tliese was I wounded in the house of them that loved Me. I was
wounded by my friends, who did nothing to defend Me, and
[21 1
who, on every occasion, made themselves the accomplices of My
adversaries'."
Time-serving Christians ! Compromising Christians ! Chris-
tians, who by their silence, their spirit of "hail^ fellow well met"
— these have been the "friends" who are responsible, in great
part, for welcoming into our midst the vices propagated by the
powers of darkness— because it was profitable.
Has the history of the centuries failed to teach Christians
an unforgettable lesson ?
^ Has the spirit of the indomitable Paul vanished from our
midst ?
Has the heroism of a Francis, whose practical life of pov-
erty shamed the impractical Christians of his own day — has this
heroism become a myth?
Has the sainted Bernardino da Feltre, who drove the money
changers from Italy, and who was responsible for establishing
more than five hundred banks— has his name become listed with
the forgotten men because he had courage in his day to oppose
and conquer the vice of usury?
Eventually, my friends, I will become specific with you. But
it _is more essential, at this moment, for us to recapture the lost
spirit of Christian unity, the hidden virtue of Christian coopera-
tion and action.
Alas ! — too many of us have become befogged with the vice
of _spiritual decay—a spirit which hypocritically tells us that our
religion is _ one which concerns only the individual, only his per-
sonal relations with his God. Too many have forgotten that our
religion is a social philosophy with a definite bearing on govern-
ment, on industry, on education and on the entire social frame-
work of the world in general and the nation in particitlar where
we live.
Leo XIII warned use — although few have heeded his warn-
ing—that ("Immo. Dei'') "it is the day for all Christians worthy
of the name . , , to endeavor to bring back all societv to the
pattern and form of Christianity."
There is much agitation in Christian circles about the ad-
vances which Communism is making in our midst. There is also
diversity of opinion, it seems, whether or not Communism one
day will gain control of our destinies in America— America that
once was Christian America; America that once gloried- in the
fact that its early settlers sought our shores because their Chris-
tianitv, in many instances, was the object of attacks in the Old
World,
[22]
My friends, learn this lesson thoroughly : Communism is
only ^ne manifestation of the power of the mystical body of
Satan. Leave it to future generations to name its next mani-
festation — but be not deceived. If not Communism, then some
other "ism'* will succeed in overthrowing the last vestige of or-
j;auized Cliristianity in our midst, if we fail now, at this very
moment, to cast aside our indifference, our false tolerance, our
criminal prudence, and organize thoroughly to re-estabUsh the
social order of Jesus Christ for the protection of our nation
against the incursions of a diabolical philosophy of international-
ism which is well-organized amongst us.
Yes, I repeat that it is our duty to protect our nation to exhibit
.1 Christian patriotism.
The great Saint Thomas is my authority for stating that
"our parents and our native land, by whom and in which we
have been begotten and reared, are also principals of our ex-
istence and guidance. Accordingly, after God, a man is most
indebted to his parents and his country."
Contrary to this is the new naturalism and internationalism
which rejects both God and patriotism. Pope Benedict XVj after
having condemned the naturalism which was rampant in his
I lay, went on to say: "The advent of a universal republic, which
is longed for by all the world's worst elements of disorder, and
I onfidently expected b}^ them, is an idea which is now ripe for
rxecution. From this republic, based on the principles of ab-
Mjkite equality of men and community of possessions, would be
Itanished all national distinctions. Nor in it would the authority
of the father over his children, or of the public power over the
citizens, or of God over htrman society, any longer be acknowl-
edged. If these ideas are put into practice, there w^ill inevitably
I nllow^ a reign of unheard of terror."
Shame on those men who decry the ad^^ances of Communism
in the face of such statements by such eminent observers ! I
.■uu not interested in names^cail it Communism, or call it what
\oix will—. I am interested in the modern spirit which domi-
nates our country in some phases of government, in the press,
in the schools, in the homes and in the milk-and-water indi-
virluals whose philosophy is : "God's in His heaven, all's right
with the world"— the philosophy of insane, stupid optimism.
Shame on those public teachers who, in pulpit, on platform
.111(1 in pamphlet, decry the existence of an organized interna-
lion^il, malicious group of men — the members of the mystical
\'<)(\y of Satan.
[23]
Do they remember the words spoken by Chrisj of old to the
Pharisees? These leaders of the Jewish people, who had re-
pudiated the supernatural social order of God, were endeavoring
to obstruct the Messias because He made converts amongst the
Jews. They boasted that they were descendants from Abraham.
Despite their royal lineage, the Master branded them with the
statement; {John viii; 44) "You are of your father, the devil,
and the desires of your father you will do"— as if to say, "You
are not of Abraham. You are not of God. You are the group
whose descendants will continue to work against God."
Christian unification — a rebirth of Christian social action;
a revived determination to break the bonds of our lethargy and
indifference — for these things I plead, as we rise from the tomb
of our defeats to unfurl the flag of victory.
Social justice has specific principles. First, it is Christian.
Second, it is social. Thirdly, it is active. And fourthly, it is
militant. These are the qualifications for all who are prepared
to surrender the heresy of naturalism and to defend the truth
of the supernatural social order of Jesus Christ— an order that
will not be tolerant with error— an order that will not be con-
tent wdth indifference; an order composed of members who, in
the words of Leo XIII ("Longin Oceani") are determined '"to
cut off famihar intercourse not only with the openly wicked, but
with those who hide their real character under the mask of uni-
versal tolerance, of respect for all religions, of the mania for re-
conciling, the maxims of the gospel with those of the revolution,
Christ with Belial, and the Church of God with the state with-
out God."
In 1906, long before the Spanish Civil War broke out, Pius
X addressed a letter to the Church of Spain, the contents of
which are applicable to American Christians. On that occasion
—twenty years before the revolution— he said: "All must re-
member that nobody has the right to remain indifferent, when
religion or the public welfare are in danger. Those who strive
to destroy religion and civil society aim above all at getting con-
trol, as far as possible, of the direction of public affairs and at
havmg themselves elected legislators. It is therefore necessary
that Christians should strive with all their might to avert that
danger."
Nineteen hundred and six to nineteen hundred and thirty-
eight ! Oh that the Spanish had heeded this warning f
Therefore we Christians in America must not be indifferent
to the choice of legislators or congressmen or executives who
seek to control our nation.
(241
I ask you not to misinterpret these following remarks there-
fore, as being those of a political partisan — remarks concerning
our recent election.
In the agricultural States of the Middle West where hun-
dreds of millions of dollars had deluged the farmers with doles —
in this section of our nation the sturdy agriculturists, to all in-
tents and purposes, said: "We are not pleased with the policy
of crop curtailment. We are opposed to the practice of plowing
up corn, of limiting the production of foodstuffs. If one-third
of the population of this nation is underfed, we refuse to become
party of the program of keeping them underfed. We refuse to
accept the sops of government dole which presume to pay us for
not working."
The thickly populated industrial States of Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin were the scenes of a revolt against
the Administration's labor policies.
These were the States where the C. I. O. rode roughshod
(jver orderly government. These were the States in which, for
a period of two years, there was witnessed a series of sit-down
strikes and the appearance of a labor dictator at the head of a
strange organization, as he triumphed over American traditions
in his meteoric rise to prominence.
Without the benefit of election to the office which he held;
dedicated to the rule of man and not of law ; innocent of all con-
stitutional authority, Mr, Lewis simply appointed himself as head
out a constitution within whose scope, I, the un-elected head of
this organization, will operate. I am the law. I am the constitu-
tion. I am the self-appointed,, self-elected leader of the industrial
masses."
My friends, do not misconstrue my meaning. I am in no
sense opposed to industrial unions, but I am opposed to any or-
ganization which refuses to follow the American pattern in our
country and which refuses to break openly and cleanly with Com-
munism—with any organization or "ism" opposed to the Chris-
tian social order.
As a secondary contribution to the defeat of the New Deal
policies for labor in the industrial States must be added the ex-
I reme liberalism and the universal tendency of certain public
servants to coddle Communists. In one or two States, certain
r.Kecutives failed to distinguish between Communism and a Com-
munist. Following the lead of Federal executives, they failed
h> repudiate the endorsement of the Communist Party in terms
[25]
sufficiently vigorous to let their constituents know that they had
no sympathy for a foreign ''ism" whose advertised objective was
to overthrow the traditional government of America, to tear the
Stars and Stripes into shreds, and to trample the cross of Christ
in the gory mud of revolution. That was unfortunate— doubly
unfortunate, since this failure to ttphold uncompromising Chris-
tianity and Americanism is charged to men who, unquestionably,
are sincere.
In proud New England, where ghost factories haunt both
the industrialist and the laborer, and where thousands of dis-
possessed citizens — dispossessed from their jobs, and their homes
— eke out an existence on the W. P. A., a political revolution of
the first magnitude was enacted last week. Still suffering from the
devastation of the recent floods^ New England, mindful of its
former security and prosperity, registered its unmistaken dis-
approval of the W. P. A. policies. Most citizens recognized that
the W. P. A. was necessary at the beginning of the depression.
But, for more than a year, there was evident a growing unrest
even on the part of those employed on the W. P. A. because they
feared that this was a permanent program.
Even populous New York State, where more W. P. A. dole
money has been spent than in New England, a barely known,
youthful crusader, confronted by the might of the opposition's
heaviest artillery, strung his bow of defiance so successfully that
he barely missed the mortal mark. Had he two or three arrows
in his quiver — two or three years of successful campaigning be-
hind him — there is no question but that he would have succeeded
single-handedly against the regiments of dole dollars which sub-
dued him.
Seven years ago and more I was protesting vehemently
against less-than-living wages paid to labor.
Seven years ago and more I was recognized in many quar-
ters as a radical for upholding the proposition of production at
a profit for agriculture.
Ever since it was my privilege to address a radio audience
I have spoken, in season and out of season, against the rugged
individualism of capitalism and Republicanism as we knew them
in this nation.
But for the past iour years I became known as one of the
arch-critics of certain national policies — not because I am op-
posed, or was opposed, to the New Deal — but because I knew
in my heart that if it continued to pursue the policies which
characterized the A. A. A. and the W. P. A.; the policies which
emanated from the Labor Department; and particularly the pol-
[26 1
icies which dominated the Treasury Department— I knew that a
(lay of reckoning was fast approaching — a day whose sunrise was
< hronicied last Tuesday, and whose sunset is no further distant
Ihan November, 1940.
I speak truthfully to you : I am still standing by the working
man and the farmer, stili pleading with him to organize, but on
.11] American pattern and according to American, Christian prin-
liples.
Today, all good citizens hope that the present Administra-
lion will read the handwriting on the wall Together we pray
lliat this Administration will not be known in history as a politi-
cal safety vaive which permitted the steam of revolution to
I'scape, only to be succeeded by the old regime which once more
will stoke up the boiler of exploitation with the fuel of bonds, of
debts^ of mortgages and of fountain pen money— all of which
I he New Deal neatly had piled, row upon row, for future use.
My friends, social justice is keenly interested in the pro-
■ liiction and distribution of weahh. Not distribution which is
measured out by th^ yardstick of scarcity, but a just distribu-
lion based upon our ability to produce— an ability which in
America means plenty for ah.
God gave us plenty — plenty of raw materials, plenty of
:-|)lendid factories, plenty of fields and mines, plenty of skilled
workmen.
If some policy — originating not with God but with man — hin-
I'TS or hampers production and distribution, that poHcy must
lirat a retreat. Its beneficiaries must surrender; for God never
niLended or planned that a man-made economy should stand be-
Uveen His people and their just share in the goods of the nation
where He placed them.
There is no Christian reason for 14-miIlion men to be un-
'iiiployed. There is no Christian need for 9-million and more
<n be recipients of federal dole. There is no Christian sanction
I'T 50-million persons in our nation to be compelled unneces-
■ inly to live below the standards of hygiene.
In its final analysis, is it not perfectly clear that these abuses
.ire traceable to an economic system of finance which is more
Hincerned with protecting the bonds of debt and the payment
I hereof, than it is in establishing an adequate purchasing power
hn- the nation?
Banks are busied buying- bonds instead of lendinp- monev to
iiMlustry.
[27 3
The privately owned central bank, known as the Federal
Reserve Bank, is busied creating debt money far beyond the
value of assets in its vaults.
The factory laborer is busied paying out one-third of his
slender revenue to meet the demands of these bondholders.
Financial rights have taken precedence over human rights.
The purchasing power and the decent hvehhood of the
common citizen have been destroyed in order to preserve the
purchasing- power of the bondholder for whom he works.
Why should farmers produce sufficient foodstuffs to feed
our entire population when half of our population is unable to
purchase the products of a farm?
Why should our manufacturers produce motor cars, refrig-
erators, clothing and housing materials when one-half of our
population has no wherewithal to buy their goods?
The machinery of production is perfectly geared in America.
In fact, our fields and our factories can supply us with more
than we could use even i£ each citizen were a millionaire.
Fortunately, our citizens are beginning to understand what
is meant by want In the midst of plenty. As St. Thomas of Aquin
says, "Air material things obey money. It is invented by the art
of man for the convenience of exchange and as a measure of
things saleable."
Alas, the art of man has not kept pace in the instance of
money with his art and ability for production. Therefore, either
through ignorance, as some think it is, or through conspiracy,
which is the opinion of others^ America is wedded to a system
of financial manipulation which has become a terrible instru-
ment in the hands of the adversaries of the Supernatural Mes-
sias and of the supernatural life which He instituted, by ham-
pering instead of facilitating the exchange of goods, the con-
sumption of our products and the functioning of the law of
supply and demand.
Social justice, I repeat, is vitally interested in this phase of
our political and economic life because, through the private con-
trol and issuance of money, the members of the mystical body
of Satan have imposed upon us through this financial power a
tremendous handicap which places terrible obstacles in the way
of those who are striving to live the life of a Christian.
The most brilliant philosopher of all times once said ("De
Regi Princi. C. l-c-15") "Two things are necessary for a good
[28]
life. The first is virtuous action . . , The second ... is the suf-
ficiency of material goods, the use of which is needed for vir-
tuous action.''
Therefore, any economic or financial system — an invention
i)f man' — which stands in the way of our practising the principles
insisted upon by Christ, must give way.
My friends, the members of the Mystical Body of Christ and
Ihe devotees of Social Justice demand plenty for all in a land
nf plenty. Not government ownership of private industry but
f^^overnment ownership and control and issuance of the where-
withal to_ enable our factories to operate, our farms to prosper
and our citizens to live a life of virtue.
The economic reform which was needed in 1933 is still need-
ed. It is our prayer that the present Administration will succeed
In accomplishing this objective of establishing adequate purchas-
ing power based on wealth and not on debt for the workers of
America. If the so-called New Deal has suffered a pohtical
reverse, basically the reason goes deeper than its farm or labor
policies. It reaches down to the depth of its inability to function
lor the great mass of the American people instead of the priv-
ileged few who own and control money and the bonds resultant
from debts — bonds which are a millstone about the neck of
civilization.
Meanwhile, take courage, my friends, Form your ranks in
the church militant !
This America is Christ^s America. His social order must
prevail.
[ 29
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
(Chapter 6, verses 5 to 13 — St. John)
When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that
a very great multitude cometh to Him, he said to Philip : Whence
shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
"And this He said to try him; for He Himself knew what
he would do.
'Thilip answered Him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread
is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.
^ "One of his disciples, Andrew^ the brother of Simon Peter,
saith to Him :
"There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two
fishes ; but what are these among so many?
"Then Jesus said : Make the men sit down. Now there was
much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in nura-
ber about five thousand,
''And Jesus took the loaves ; and when He had given tiianks
He distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also
of the fishes, as much as they would.
"And when they were filled, He said to His disciples : Gather
up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost.
"They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets wit
the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained ove
and above to them that had eaten."
It was the feast of the Passover— the feast which commem-
orated the liberation of the Jews from the bondage of Egypt
Thousands of them, under the leadership of Moses, passed from
Egypt over the sea whose waters had been walled on high. Pur
suing them were the hosts of Pharoah, desiring to recapture
their erstwhile victims. Too late! God's miracle which assisted
the escape of a downtrodden people, permitted the waters to
engulf both chariot and rider. The Jewish people had been
saved ! For forty years the children of Abraham wandered
aimlessly through the narrow confines of a.desert.
_ Forgetful of the mercies which their Creator had bestowed
upon them, they gathered their trinkets of jewels and built for
themselves a golden calf to worship.
For forty years, despite the miracles of manna which fee
them and the miracles of the rod of their prophet that brought
them drink in the midst of a desert, they were slow to repent
Eventually, with penance done and satisfaction made, the>
130]
I
were led into a land of milk and honey — The Promised Land of
I heir dreams.
To the children of these wanderers Christ spoke as Lhey
wc-re gathered on the hillside near Jerusalem.
Amongst them there were not two hundred pennies with
which to purchase food — Just five barley loaves and two fishes.
And lo ! the miracle !
They who were hungry were filled! (No policy of regula-
fion characterized this miracle of Christ's; for twelve baskets
of bread, over and above what the multitude had eaten, stil! re-
iiijLined.)
My friends, in one sense we Americans thought we had
p.-Lssed over the Red Sea; thought that we had escaped the op-
I'l-ession of the Egyptians; thought that we had entered the pre-
■ lucts of the promised land in 1933.
Alas ! For forty months or more we have been languishing
Ml the desert of depression despite the best efforts of a new
1\ 1 OSes to lead us to the promised land of plenty.
Year after year we have excluded Christ and His gospel of
I he brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God from our
M,nsideration — ^and all around us are the poor, the naked, the
iiiingry, the brokenhearted who have not two hundred pennies
.iniongst them in a land of plenty to purchase food and shelter
iiiid humble raiment.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Peace has been excluded from
the councils and parliaments of men and we have fashioned for
'Mirselves a golden calf to worship and adore. Meanwhile, prepa-
t;aions are afoot to create instruments of destruction.
Hate and persecution have become the watchwords of a
world that once more has nailed the hands of Christ to the cross
hands, if we did but unfasten the nails, which would be raised
III bless us, to multiply food, to forgive us.
Have we lost faith in Him Who said: "Seek ye first the
Kingdom of God and His justice, and all things will be added
unto you?"
Have we scorned His words which warned us that "Without
Me you can do nothing?"
Have we joined with the mob in Pilate's Hall who shouted;
' iive us Barabbas and away with Christ!"— "Give us the Barab-
h;is of thievery^ of godlessaess, of murder and of human trick-
ery; away with the Christ of love, of humility, of kindness and
"I patience!"
Today, my friends, as you are gathered about your receiv-
[31]
ing sets, visualize the Master standing with you. He is there — '
unseen, unheard. Once more He has compassion upon you.
Once more, He is wondering if you will walk with Him — or away
from Him — now that He has fed you.
O yes ! He has fed us. He has been doing this throughout
America for years with the factories He built, with the jfields
He tilled, with the plenty that He has given us.
Unless we cease worshipping the calf of gold, the promised
land of plenty will always be within our reach, but always an-
other day's journey through the sands of depression.
May Jesus see today what He saw nineteen hundred years
ago! The gospel narrative says: "When Jestis had lifted up His
eyes and seen that a very great multitude cometh to Him, He
said to Philip: whence shall we buy bread, that they may eat?*'
First, then, let us come to Him. Then He will feed us.
A PRAYER FOR WORK
Jesus, Son of God and Foster- Son of Joseph, the Carpen
ter, I call upon Thee I
'By Thy hands, calloused in Joseph's shop, grant that my
hands shall find work to do.
By Thy shoulders, bent and tired from carrying heavy tim
bers, grant that mine may grow weary with work.
At eventide Thou didst come home to Mary's board where
food abounded.
1 plead with Thee that my wife's table shall be filled with
frugal comfort.
Upon Thy knee Thou didst welcome the little children who
didst gather there.
O turn not Thine eyes away from my children, whom, tO'
night, I must meet hungry^ naked and forlorn !
Thine own Apostles Thou didst feed, once, as they walked
through the cornfields ; again, as they assembled with Thee in the
upper chamber.
On Thee I call to help me feed the family which Thou didst
entrust to my care.
O Christ, my God, my elder Brother, Thou didst multiply
bread to feed the hungry upon the hillsides of Palestine.
For myself and the millions who, today, are just as hungry
as were those who gathered about Thee, I ask that, once again
Thou wouldst multiply work that we may live.
[32]
Of old Thou didst obtain miraculously a coin to pay the
J ribute of tax imposed upon Thee.
Grant that I may gain the wherewithal to save my humble
home from confiscation.
Of old Thou didst say, "Come unto Me, all ye who labor
and are heavily burdened, and I will refresh you."
My God, I come !
I bring to Thee a heart that is scarred with worry — worry
for the dear ones at home.
_I bring to Thee a mind that is filled with fears— fears born
of idleness and of want
I bring to Thee a soul that is in sore need of refreshment.
O give me hope and courage !
O Jesus, Who once spoke in defense of the exploited of
Thy day; O Master, Who once chastised those who devoured
I he houses of widows and orphans, speak for us who call upon
Thee f
Grant that the minds of our legislators will be enlightened;
that their hearts will be softened.
My voice is but the voice of millions raised to Thee. O
Carpenter of Nazareth, intercede for me, for I am hard pressed !
* irant that I, the unemployed, Thy brother, shall not languish in
want amidst the plenty which Thou hast created.
O Carpenter of Nazareth, I am not worthy of all I ask of
Thee ! I have sinned— I have strayed far away from Thee.
But those babes watching for my return tonight — they are
innocent — they are gentle and good.
For them I plead that I may work.
Tonight they shall say Thy prayer. Tonight as yesternight
Ihey will say : "Give us this day our daily bread."
O God, must I offer them a cold cup of gruel or a hard
crust of bread?
No, O no, Thou didst not mean that !
Of Thee I ask no miracles. O God, grant me work !
Of Thee I ask no special privilege. O God, grant me work!
Of Thee I ask no riches, O God, grant me work!
Of Thee I ask no social prominence. O God grant me work!
Thy prophet did say, "The earth is the Lord's and the
tuUness thereof." O Lord God, just a little share in its wealth ;
just a little part of its fulness; just a humble roof tree and frugal
food earned by the sweat of my brow— that is all I ask.
O God, grant me work !
[35]
Persecution — Jewish
and Christian
Sunday, No-veniber 20, 1958
At long last, a calloused world has come in personal contact
with a persecution which it understands. At long last, it ap
pears that the better sympathies of an indifferent citizenry are
aroused to protest against the mad injustices now being meted
out to a minority people resident abroad.
This afternoon bear with me while I add my voice in pro
test against persecution — that murderous weapon of hatred;
bear with me while I endeavor to trace to its lair the fanged
serpent of hatred whose sting has struck once again to spew
poison and deal out death over the face of the earth — a fanged
serpent which, on every previous occasion, has beat a slimy
retreat to rest in security until appropriate conditions sum-
moned it to emerge and repeat its devastation.
This time a united world must shatter the cruel weapon of
persecution. This time we must assault hatred so that never
again will it lift its head to assault us.
ThuSf I shall ask an intelligent audience composed of intelli-
gent Christians and intelligent Jews : "Why is there persecution
in Germany today ? How can we destroy it ?"
Before attempting to answer these questions, permit me to re-
view for the uninformed members of this audience the chief inci-
dents immediately preceding the latest manifestations of persecu-
tion suffered by thousands of innocent Jews, natives of Germany;
a persecution which, fortunately for all^ has received a superabund-
ance of publicity both at home and abroad,
A few days ago, a young Polish-Jew fired a shot that was heard
around the world. Because his Polish-Jewish parents were dis-
missed from Germany by an order issued by the Nazi government,
expelling all foreign-born Jews from the Reich, this frenzied youth
murdered a German public official in Paris.
[34 1
Reprisals for this imprudent act were rapid on the part of the
Hitler government — peculiar reprisals. Instead of demanding an
eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth, the German government
levied a fine of approximately $400-million against the 600,000
German-Jews resident in Germany.
Following this, the American newspapers wtre aglow with
headlines. Our public officials were loud in their denunciations.
Our ecclesiastical leaders were quick to disapprove of this ven-
geance. Our President spurred on the nation's sympathetic emo-
tions by saying: *'I myself could scarcely believe that such things
could occur in a twentieth century civilization."
To be effectual in our discussion, which is not content merely
with offering sympathy for the innocent German-Jews* which is
not satisfied with registering protests against the German govern-
ment — to be effectual in our discussion, which aims at unveiling the
cause of persecution and then, at destroying it, it is necessary to
record the following facts.
Although cruel persecution to German-bom Jewa has been no-
torious since 1933 — particularly since the loss of their citizenship
-nevertheless, until last week the Nazi purge was concerned,
chiefly, with foreign-born Jews. German citizen Jews were not
molested officially in the conduct of their business* The property
of German citizen Jews was not confiscated by the government,
iilthough a few synagogues and stores were destroyed by mob
violence. The children of German citizen Jews were permitted to
;Lttend public schools with other children. The German citizen
J cwish bankers pursued their business as usual The German cit-
izen rabbis were permitted the practice of their rites. Until this
liour no German citizen Jew had been martyred for his religion by
government order although restrictions were placed upon Jewish
professional men.
While it is true that foreign citizen Jews resident in Germany
were disparaged and expelled, it is likewise true that many social
impediments were placed in the pathway of Catholics and Protes-
l:iuts by the Nazi government — impediments which are revolting
In our American concepts of liberty. But despite all this, ofhcial
< iermany has not yet resorted to the guillotine, to the machine gun,
l<> the kerosene-drenched pit as instruments of reprisal against
U'W or gentile.
My friends, it is only natural, however, that the civilized world
135 1
was shocked at the turn of events and at the imposition of a tre-
mendous fine levied against innocent Gennan-Jews because a
Polish-Jew murdered a German government official. It is only
natural that the Jews resident in America are aroused because
their co-nationaUsts and co-religionists, living under the jurisdic-
tion of Chancellor Hitler, have been subjected to such an unrea-
sonable reprisal.. It is hkewise natural that Christians in every
nation, particularly in our own, condemn this unjust persecution
not only because.it is unchristian, but because it is unwise.
In all cotmtries Jews are in the minority. They have no nation
of their own; they have no flag. "The World Almanac" states
that there are only 15-million Jews in all the world and only 4-
million resident in North America, Certainly they are in the mi-
nority- — but a closely woven minority in their racial tendencies ; a
powerful minority in their influence ; a minority endowed with an
aggressiveness, an initiative which, despite all obstacles, has carried
their sons to the pinnacle of success in jovirnalismj in radio, in
finance and in all the sciences and arts.
Thus, with these facilities at their disposal, no story of persecu-
tion was ever told one-half so welb one-half so thoroughly as the
story of this $400-million reprisal which culminated a series of
persecutions. Perhaps, may I resubmit, this is attributable to the
fact that Jews, through their native ability, have risen to such high
places in radio and in press and in finance; perhaps this persecu-
tion is only the coincidental last straw which has broken the back
of this generation's patience.
Whatever be the reason for this unparalleled publicity, we are
thankful to God that it has happened; for it gives both Jew and
gentile, Christian and non-Christian, an opportunity to write a
new precedent, to establish a new tradition — a precedent and tra-
dition by which we will all unite with all our facilities for all time
to oppose all persecution wherever it may originate.
The Jew has challenged the Christian for his sympathy and
cooperation. In turn the Christian challenges the Jew for his.
ThuSj in a spirit of mutual cooperation; in a scientific spirit of
coldly facing causes in order to remove effects, let us pause to
inquire why Xaziism is so hostile to Jewry in particular and how
the Nazi policy of persecution can be liquidated.
It is the belief, be it well or ill founded, of the present German
government, not mine^ that Jews — not as religionists but as na-
tionals onl}^ — were responsible for the economic and social ills
suffered by the Fatherland since the signing of the Treaty of
Versailles.
[36]
Imbued with this idea, be it right or wrong— an idea that spread
rapidly, particularly since 1923 when Communism was beginning
lo make substantial advances throughout Germany— a group of
rebel Germans under tlie leadership of an Austrian-born war vet-
eran—Adolf Hitler by name — -organized for two purposes. First,
to overthrow the existing German government under whose juris-
diction Communism was waxing strong and, second, to rid the
Fatherland of Communists whose leaders, unfortunately, they
identified with the Jewish race.
Thus, Naziism was conceived as a political defense mechanism
against Communism and was ushered into existence as a result of
Communism. And, Communism itself was regarded by the rising
generation of Germans as a product not of Russia, but of a group
of Jews who dominated the destinies of Russia.
Were there facts to substantiate this belief in the minds of the
Nfazi Party, I ask?
OfHcial information emanating from Russia itself informed the
world that Communism, while barbarously opposed to every form
of Christianity, made it a crime for any comrade to utter a single
word of reproach against the Jews.
Uncontradictable evidence gleaned from the writings and the
policies of Lenin, proved indisputably that the government of the
Soviet Republics w^as predominantly ant i- Christian and definitely
anti-national.
More than that, the 1917 list of those who, with Lenin, ruled
many of the activities of the Soviet Republic, disclosed that of the
^IS quasi-cabinet members, 24 of them were atheistic Jews, whose
names I have before me. The list, published by Nazis and dis-
I rfbuted throughout Germany, is as follows :
4ssiimed Name
Real Name
Nationality
Lenin Oulianow (Ulianoff) Russian
Trotsky (Trotzky) , . Bronstein Jewish
Steckloff . Nakhanes Jewish
Martoff Zederbaum Jewish
Zinovieff Apfelbaum Jewish
Kameneff Rosenfeld Jewish
Dan Gourevitch (Yurewitsch) . , .Jewish
Ganetzky Furstenberg Jewish
Parvus , .Helpfand Jewish
[37]
Uritzky Padomilsky Jewish
Larin Lurge Jewish
Eohrin .Nathansohn Jewish
Martmoff Zibar Jewish
Bogdanoff Ziiberstein Jewish
Garin Garf eld Jewish
Suchanoff Gimel Jewish
Kamneiff Goldmann Jewish
Sagersky Krochmann . , . . Jewish
Riazanoff Goldenbach Jewish
SoIutezefiF Eleichmann Jewish
Piatnitzky Ziwin Jewish
Axelrod Orthodox , . , Jewish
Glasunoff Schultze Jewish
Zuriesain Weinstein Jewish
Lapinsky Loewensohn Jewish
Be it emphasized that these Jews were not religious Jews
They were the haters of God, the haters of religion.
Throughout Germany antipathy towards all Jews, however
grew rapidly. It was Increased year by year — and particularly
in 1935 when the official disclosure made manifest that the central
committee of the Communist Party, operating in Russia, con
sisted of 59 members, among whom were 56 Jews ; and that the
three remaining non-Jews were married to Jewesses.
The list of their names published by the Nazis follows :
Non-Jews married to Jewesses (3) : L. V. Stalin, S. S. LoboWj
V. V. Ossinsky. Jews (56) : V. V. Balitsky, K. J. Baumann, I.
M. Vareikis, J. B, Gamarnik, I. I, Egoff, I. A. Zelensky, I. D,
Kabakoff, L. M. Kaganowitz, V. G. Knorin, M. M. Litvinoff, I
E. Liobimow, D. Z, Manouilsky, I. P. Nossow, J. L. Piatakow, I
0. Piatnitzky, M, O. Aazoumow, M. L. Ruchimovitch, K. V,
Rindin, M. M. Houtaevitch, M. S. Tchuodow, A. M. Schvernik
R. I. Eiche, G. G. lagoda, I. E. lakir, I. A. lakovlew, F,
P. Griadinsky, G. N. Kaminsky, I. S. Unschlicht, A. S, Boulin, M,
T. Kalmanowitz, D. S. Beika, Zifrinovitch, Trachter, Bitner, G.
Kanerj Leo Krichman, A. K. Lepa, S. A. Lozovsky, B. P. Pozern
T. D. Deribass, K. K. Strievsky, N. N. Popow, S. Schwartz, E
1. Veger, I. Z. Mechlis, A. I. Ougarow, G. I. Blagonravow, A. P
Rosengloz, A. P. Serebrovsky, A. M. Steingart, I, P. Pavlounov*
sky, G. I. Sokolnikow, C. I. Broido, V. I. Polonsky, G. D. Vein-
berg, M. M. Kaganowitz.
I speak these words, certainly holding no brief for Germany
or for Naziism. Simply as a student of history, I am endeavor'
[38]
ing to analyze the reason for the growth of the idea in the minds
of the Na2:i Party that Communism and Judaism are too closely
interwoven for the national health of Germany.
Nor do I speak these words to defend the atheistic, internation-
al Jews and gentiles throughout the world who follow the footsteps
of Lenin and advocate the principles of Marx. I do ask, however,
an insane world to distinguish between the innocent Jew and the
guilty Jew as mu^h as I would ask the same insane world to dis-
tinguish between the innocent gentile and the guilty gentile.
Believe me, my friends^ it is in all charity that I speak these
words as I seek to discover the causes that produced the effect
known as Naziism — Naziism which was evolved to act as a defense
mechanism against the incursions of Communism.
Let us not forget the object of this discussion. My purpose is to
contribute a worthwhile suggestion to eradicate from this world its
mania for persecution.
Thus, while we are concerned with destroying the causes which
lieget persecution from this civilization of ours, let us profit by
Ibis occasion when the attention of our own country has been
called to this international immorality, particularly on the occasion
of a $400-m:llion line being levied against 600,000 Jews.
I ask you : Should not all good men— ^Jew and gentile, Catholic
Hud Protestant, Christian and non-Christian — coordinate their
forces to restore sanity, peace and justice to an era which for its
ferocity, its barbarism and its hatred has outstripped the Diocle-
lians, the Neros and Torquemadas of old?
I was thrilled to hear the most Intellectual Archbishop of San
I'Vancisco remind his compatriots that this universal surge of sym-
ji;ithy whose waters are now about to wash clean the impure
emotions of a materialistic America— 1 was thrilled— and so were
\(iu — to hear him state that, at long last, the press and the radio of
I his nation are beginning to play their part in arousing a dormant
people to the other injustices and persecutions which are besmirch-
ing our civilization — the persecutions in Russia, in Mexico and
iTi Spain.
Persecution is an injustice, wherever it exists. Today's per-
■>rcution was born from the loins of yesterday's persecution. Thus,
if Naziism, a persecutor of Jew and Catholic and Protestant, is
.1 defense mechanism against Communism, be assured that Com-
iiumism, another persecutor, was a defense mechanism against
[39]
the greed of the money changers, who persecuted and pilloried
the teeming populations of Europe.
Permit me to re-state that important principle: If Naziism is
now memorable for its injustice and persecution, so was Commun-
ism; so was the economic system which made slaves of millions in
the midst of plenty; the system which generated Communism.
Thus, one persecution begets another as one injustice evolves
into another.
The inevitability of cause and effect will pursue its course
to its logical destiny of chaos as one injustice continues to re-
produce a worse injustice.
It is our concern, therefore, to destroy the cause in order to
prevent a succession of disastrous effects. To abolish persecution,
let us destroy hatred. To eliminate hatred, let us establish justice
—justice for all without exception.
Any other approach to our problem, is unscientific.
And, may I add, there can be no justice without God; there
can be no God without love — love for Him and for our fellow-
men whom He fashioned according to His imag^e and likeness.
Be not mistaken, therefore, in analyzing the cause of Naziism.
Trace it courageously to its legitimate lair, to its occasioning cause.
Therefore, I say to the good Jews of America, be not in-
dulgent with the irreligious, atheistic Jews and gentiles who pro-
mote the cause of persecution in the land of the Communists ;
the same ones who promote the cause of atheism in America.
Yes, be not lenient with your high financiers, and politicians who
assisted at the birth of the only political, social and economic
system in all civilization that adopted atheism as its religion, in-
ternationalism as its patriotism and slavery as its libert}^
^Tn our possession we have a copy of the official 'White
Paper' issued by the English War Cabinet in 1919." (N.E. : These
words I used in a discourse of Sunday, November 20th, 1938. In
compiling this booklet of discourses permit me to add the follow-
ing information which I did not deliver over the radio on that
date. The official British '*White Paper" says :
[40]
"I consider that the immediate suppression of Bolshevism
is the greatest issue now before the world, not even excluding
the war which is still raging, and unless, as above stated,
Bolshevism is nipped in the bud immediately, it is bound
to spread in one form or another over Europe and the whole
world, as it is organized and worked by Jews who have no
nationality and whose one object is to destroy for their own
ends the existing order of things."
Because so much controversy arose and so many denials were
made relative to facts which I obtained from the British "White
l>aper" — particularly about Bolshevism being attributed to the
[ews — I am supplying all the readers of this discourse with photo-
.slatic copies of that portion of the original British "White Paper"
which later on was expurgated, and which expurgated edition my
critics used in denying the validity of the facts which I presented,
I am also supplying photostatic copies— pages 88, 89, 90, 91,
.'M, 292, 293— of Father Fahey's book, "The Mystical Body
of Christ/' and his references to the American Intelligence Report
I [. S. Army No. 2 which he calls the American Secret Service and
which name was used by the French High Commissioner.
Critics have denied the existence of this testimony. But the
"Documentation Catholique" of March 6th, 1920, together with
nlher documents which the photostats reveal guarantee it.)
This official paper prints the names of the Jewish bankers,
Kuhn, Loeb and Company of New York City, among those who
helped to finance the Russian Revolution. Since then, both Jewish
.md gentile financiers have been according financial comfort to the
:>t>viet Republics.
Perhaps these financial overtures were made in innocence —
perhaps not.
Moreover, I have before me a quotation from "The American
Hebrew" of September 10, 1920 which says: "The achievement
(She Russian-Jewish Revolution.-^Ed.), destined to figure in his-
lory as the overshadowing result of the World War, was largely
I he oiitcome of Jewish thinking, of Jewish discontent, of Jewish
i-lfort to reconstruct."
Let our remarks be couched in the language of charity when
LL'ferring to that quotation : "It was a Jewish effort to reconstruct."
r.ut, in justice, we expect that results — that truth founded upon
hict and experience — now will convince all Jewish leaders worthy
[411
of the name to repudiate vigorously atheistic Communism and its
followers whence emerges the fanged serpent of persecution.
Then and only then can we coordinate our forces to banish hatred
and injustice from the nations of the world.
Now that experience has proven that this ei^ort to reconstruct
society by means of L^ommunism died a-borning- — now that this
same experience teaches us that from the birth-cradle of Com-
munism there rose the stench of Nazi persecution; now that this
Communism is permeating the entire world with the fumes of
hate, of destruction and of irreligion, is it not time for those Jews
and Christians who have escaped unscatched, to re-purify the
atmosphere of the world, first, from Communism, lest by its con-
tinued presence, an unjust defense mechanism similar to Naziism
will spring up to assail us ?
Thus, it is my hope that the thousands of erudite, sincere Jews
in this nation, together with all informed Christians, will recognize
that as long as misguided Jews and gentiles both, and in such
great numbers, continue to propagate the doctrines of anti-God,
anti-Christ, anti-patriotism and anti-property, so long there always
will exist some defensive mechanism against Communism. Today
it is Naziism in Berlin, Tomorrow it will be some other "ism" in
New York. But always it will be characterized by persecution.
It would be ignominious for Christians, at this hour, to cloak
themselves in the garments of crass silence on the subject of
Communism from which cesspool there originated Naziism. It
would be ignoble for us not to raise our voice in defense of the
600,000 Jews subjected to so many persecutions by the Nazis,
culminating in a fine of $400-million.
However, it is my opinion that Naziism, the effect of Com-
munism, cannot be liquidated in persecution complex until the
religious Jews in high places ~ in synagogue, in finance, in
radio and in press— attack the cause, attack forthright the errors
and the spread of Communism, together with their co-nationals
who support it.
My fellow citizens, I am not ignorant of Jewish history. I
know its glories. I am acqtiainted with its glorious sons. I am
aware of the keen intellectuality which has characterized its
progress in commerce, in finance, in all the arts and sciences and,
particularly, in the field of communications.
But I am also aware that every nation from time immemorial
has lifted in its hand the lash of persecution to strike the back
of Jewry. From Nineveh to Berlin; from ancient to modem
142]
limes, a constant moan of suffering has been raised from the
Weeping Wall whose structure now has encompassed the world.
Portugal and Spain, France and Germany, England and the
northern countries^ Italy and Russia — all, in turn, have taken
their stand at the pillar of persecution to wield the leaden lash
jhout the shoulders of Jews — for what reason I need not detail
;it: the moment. I will satisfy myself simply by drawing to your
.litention that, since the time of Christ, Jewish persecution only
iVillowed after Christians first were persecuted — persecuted either
\)y exploiters within their own ranks, as in the Middle Ages, or
Ity enemies from without, as in our own days — the days of
( ommunism.
Many historians — in fact, the vast majority of them ■ — • main-
f ;iin that the Jews were persecuted because of their social
j)hiIosophy.
Parallel with their persecution has been the persecution of
(. "hristians — not for their social philosophy but for their religion.
Relative to Christian persecution in our own day — in this
most enlightened day of the 20th century — witness the price
I hat Christians have paid to uphold their religion against those
who were anti-religious; to uphold their Christ against those
vvlio were anti-Christ; to Uphold their patriotism and nationalism
.if^^ainst those who were unpatriotic and international.
Between the years 1917 and 1938 more than (c.) 20-milHon
I hristians were murdered by the Communistic government in
lUissia.
Between these same years not $400-million but (c.) $40-
billion — at a conservative estimate — of Christian property was
appropriated by the Lenins and Trotskys, the ZinoviefFs and the
Kameneffs, the Litvinoffs and the Lapinskys — by the atheistic
Jews and gentiles — both — of Rvissia,
Those were the desperate days when Christians were not
expelled from their native land but were targets for the machine
^^un which beat out its tattoo against human hearts ; incredibk
days when the altars of Christ were desecrated and the servants of
("hrist were massacred on ever-multiplying Calvarys.
Our President recently said: "Such news from any part of
ihe world" — speaking of the persecution of the Jews in Germany
^"Such news would inevitably produce a similar profound re-
action among American people in every part of the nation." Alas !
the news of Christian persecution came to our shores. Alas! the
143 i
press and the radio were almost silent. Alas ! this present govern-
ment made friends of these murderers by recognizing their flag !
Those were the days when there was silence in the press;
days when there was silence on the radio because opposition to
Communism was a ^'controversial" subject.
Turn the pages of history to recent years when the disciples
of the Communists, atheists, internationalists and anti-Christians
obtruded their philosophy into Mexico. Although the Christian
world stood aghast while hundreds of millions of dollars of
property, including ecclesiastical institutions, were confiscated,
there was no condemnation officially uttered against a Cardenas,
there was no recall of the Ambassador Josephus Daniels, there
was no national protest on that occasion, there was no invitation
extended to the persecuted Christians of Mexico to seek refuge
in otir land.
Almost contemporaneous with this Mexican madness, directed
and operated by the commissars of the Kremlin, the world began
to hear the story of disconsolate Spain — -Spain that has become
the battleground of Communism versus Christianity.
What is the record of that unfortunate country?
(c.) Seven hundred thousand men have fallen in battle, (c.)
Three hundred thousand of the noblest non-combatants— men
and wmen and children — ^have been butchered because of their
religion.
The press of America succeeded in muzzling the truth about
these horrors. No symposium of radio protest was organized to
decry the Christian life-blood spilled upon the pavements of
Barcelona — Barcelona with its population of over one million
persons where, at this moment, there is left only one, small, semi-
official chapel.
Nor was Claude Bowers, our Spanish Ambassador, called
back to Washington to tell his story — the most ghastly story
in' all the pages of civilized or uncivilized history. Nor did
the State Department forbid the (c.) 3,200 members of the
Abrahani Lincoln Brigade, recruited from our Jewish and gentile
Communist youtli, from participating in dragging Christ down
from His cross and slaughtering His innocent followers.
And most recently— just last week— there was no protest,
no indignation aroused when Stalin, not satisfied with having paid
for his Communism with the blood of (c.) 20-miIHon martyrs
[44]
justituted a new purge against all Christians and a handful of
[tolitical Jews.
Why, then, was there this silence on the radio and in the press ?
Ask the gentlemen who control the three national radio chains;
ask those wdio dominate the destinies of the financially inspired
[)ress — surely these Jewisli gentlemen and others must have been
ignorant of the facts or they w^ould have had a symposium in
I'hose dark days^especially when students of history .recognized
Lhat Naziism is only a defense mechanism against Communism
and that persecutioii of the Christians always begets persecution
of the Jews.
However, let the dead past bury its dead. Today — this is
our day, Christians and Jews. We were not responsible for the
atrocities of yesteryear. We wih be responsible for the persecu-
tions of future yeai'S.
My friends, unless all persecution is stopped; unless all the
causes that lead to persecution are removed, this 20th Century,
which will have become renowned in the chronicles of the world
as the most blood-thirsty in all its existence, will continue to pro-
create scientists who, in turn, will beget new means for destruc-
tion ; will generate radicals who will conceive new plans for revo-
lution; and will multiply persecution, unless we have courage to
remove the basic causes of exploitation which have been confis-
cating the properties of the poor.
Therefore, we are in hearty accord with our government which
has seen fit to recall its Ambassador from Germany for the pur-
pose of discussing the injustice of a government which has been
chahenged for persecuting the Jews.
If we are sincere we will recall all the ambassadors or ministers
irom the communistic countries — ^from Mexico City where a price
is Still placed on the head of priests; from Barcelona in whose
suburbs (c.) 300 innocent nuns — the breath of life still in their
bodies — were drenched with kerosene, and burned alive by official
order of the Military Communists, from Moscow wdiere our
temples have been turned into museums and where our Christ has
been crucified anew — yes, (c.) 20-million times anew.
By all means, let us have a convention of ambassadors.
By all means, let us have courage to compound our sympathy
not only from the tears of Jews but also from the blood of Chris-
l-ia^g_(c.) 600,000 Jews whom no government official in Germany
has yet sentenced to death, and (c.) 2S-million Christians, at least,
whose lives have been snuffed out, whose property has been con-
145]
fiscated in its entirety and whose altars and Christ have been
desecrated since 1917 without official protest from America —
America that has extended and still extends the right hand of
recognition to the murderers themselves.
Let us distil this sympathy into a program of peace — peace,
theresult of order; order, the offspring of law; and law, the child
of justice.
Thanks be to God, both the radio and the press at length have
become attuned to the wails of sorrow arising from Jewish
persecution !
May these notes rise in rapid crescendo until a symphony, not
of hate but of love, not of protest but of determination, fills the
heart of every human being in America.
May every honest Jew, every God-fearing Jew, as well as
every honest and God-fearing Christian, find themselves cooper-
ating in this common objective.
Gentiles must repudiate the excesses of Naziism. But Jews
and gentiles must repudiate the existence of Communism from
which Naziism springs.
In conclusion, may we Americans not engage in unreasonable
reprisals against any nation.
Let charity be the norm of our conduct as we assemble our
forces for action.
Charity that bids us love God with our whole heart and soul
and mind ; charity that bids us love our neighbors — not for what
they are in themselves — but for what God has made them —
His sons, our brothers,
P. S.: I know that this address is particularly displeasing to
those of communistic mind.
I have it on definite information that these persons have or-
ganized to complain to the radio stations to stop my future broad-
casts.
Need I say more ?
(Fhotostatic Copy)
The Mystical Body of Christ
in the^ Modern World
BY
REV. DENIS FAHEY, C.S.Sp., B.A., D.Ph., D.D.
I
Professor of Philosophy and Church Hitiory,
iSenior JEfowfie of Shidies, Blackrock College, DuUin
WITH A. PBEFATORV PBTTEH VBOM
THE MOSX BEV. J. KINANE. D.D., B.C.L.
Biehop of WaUrJoni ond Li^mors.
[46]
BROWNE AKD NOLAN LIMITED
WATEEFOBD DUBLIN . BELFAST CORK LOJ^POH^
PBIKTED IN ntELAND
[47 1
ISQ^i^SHP
^iHtiaiiaU.iii
(Photostatic Copy)
Cum permissu Superiorum Beligioaorum.
Iramnii potest:
FiHST Edition
GULIELMUS COFFEY, S.TX.,
Censor.
•J* JEREMIAS,
Episcopus Waterfordienaia
6t Lismorensis.
Watcrjordiae, die JQ" Februarii, I935.
mi)l] Qbstat
lEDpiimi potest :
Waierfordiae. die G" ^
Second Edition
GULIELMUS COFFEY, S.T.L.,
Cenaor.
Episcvpus WalfrJordw7iS76
prilia, I02S,
Printed in Jreland at Porkpate Fyiniiity
WQTHt. DulHn, by Cahill i Cc, Ltd,
14B]
SS
(Photostatic Copy)
The Mystical Body of Christ in tJje Modern World
'Russia, No. 1 (1919), A CoUention of Eeports on
Bolshevism in Kussia.' The entire Report ia illuminat-
ing as to Bolshevik proceedings and aiiu^s, Init the kernel
of the whole matter ia contained in the following extract :
' The danger is now so great thai I feci it iny duty to call
the attention of the BHtish and all other Governments
to the fact thai, if an end is n-ot put to Bolshevi&m at ome,
the civilization of fhe whole world will be threatened.
This is 7iot an exaggeration, but a sober matter of fact. . . ,
/ consider that the immediate su'p'pression of Bolshevism
is the greatest issue now before the. world, 7wt eveii exclvding
the- war which is still raging, and unless, as above stated,
Bolshevism is nipped in the hud iinmediately , it is bound
to spread in one form or artolher over Europe and the
whole world, as it is organized avd wo^-hed by Jews who
fiave no nationality ami whose mm object is to destroy
for their own emU the existing order of tUn/}s. The only
manner in which this dagger can he averted would be
collective action on the pari- of all the Pov^ers. J 7vould
beg that this Report be telegraphed as soon as possible
in cipher in full to the British Foreign Office in view of
its importance.*
" Never has anyone shown more prophetic insight than
M. Oudendyke. His forecast has been absolutely fulfilled
in every respect, and to-day the Bolpheviks— now about
to be received in London— constitute the greatest danger
to the pence and stability of the world, cvei^ thi'eatening
civilization. Whether his vitally important Report
reached other Chancelleriofs we do not know, but our
Foreign Office at least was forewarned, and it did not — at
^rst— withhold the warning from the public. The sequel
is, however, extraordinary. The original White Paper
quickly became unprocurable, and another, an ' abridged
edition ' with the same title, promptly appeared at 6d.
instead of 0d., from which all that we have quoted, and
more of almost equal importance, had been carefully
eliminated. It would be particularly interesting, but
evidently impossible, to ascertain how this suppression
of pregnant facts was arranged at the Foreign Office,''
The chief document, treatingof the financing of the
Russian RevcTlutron. is. the one drawn uP ^Vj'hs A^^g^'*^^"
Sec ret SeTvice and transmitted by the Frencli Hig h
[ished _ by
Commissioner to his Government. l-'L;^^^ P}J^^J
49
J^^DU^
CPhotostatk Copy)
The Agents of Hevoltaum
the Documerttation Oathol tque of Paris on 6th March, 1920
and preceaea by the ioiiowmg remarJis : " I'he authenticity
of this document is guaranteed to us. With regard to
the exactness of the information which it oontainSj the
American Secret Service takes responsibihty."
This document was quoted in 1920 in a Bupplemen-fr to
the paper, La Vidlle France, which added : " All the Govern-
ments of the Entente were aware of thi8 mejnorandum,
drawn up from the data of the American Secret Service
and sent at the time to the French High Commissioner
and his colleagues." The memorajadum ia alao to be
found in Mgr. Jouin's work, Ze Peril Judio-Ma^onnique,
Part III, pp. 249-251, with the added remark that the
Jews have placed obsfcaclea m the w^ay of its publication,
so that the great majbrfty of people are unaware of its
existence. ^ The document is divided in t o eight sectiona. -
geotions I to IV aa w e ll as VI to VIII will be here repro-
duced for th e "bene tit ot readers^
** Section I. — In February, 1916, it was first discovered
that a revolution was being fomented in Russia. It
was found out that the folJowing persons as well as the
banking-house mentioned were engaged in this work of
destruction :
'' Jacob Schiff (Jew) ; Guggenheim (Jew) ; Max
Breitung (Jew) ; Kuhn, Loeb & Co. (Jewish Banking-
house), of which the following are the directors : Jacob
Schiff, Felix Warburg, Otto Kahn, Mortimer SchiS,
S. H. Hanauer (all Jews).
'' There can be no doubt that the Russian revolution,
which broke out a year after the information given above
had been received, was launched and fomented by
distinctively Jewish influences.
'*A3 a matter of fact, in April. 1917, Jacob SehiS
made a public declaration that it was thanks to his
financial help that the Russian revolution had succeeded.
''Section J/.— In the spring of 1917, Jacob Schiff
began to supply funds to Trotsky (Jew) to bring about
the social revolution in Russia. The New York daily,
^ Thougli the Jewish origin of Kerensky, who brought about the first
R-ussian revolution of 1917, has bsen contoated, it seems pretty certain
he was the eon of the Jew Aronne (Aaron) Kerbia and the Jewess AdI&r.
After the doath of Kerbis, hia' widow- married a certain Kerenaky iu
Bussian Turkestan. This man adopted young Kerbis, who took thg
name of Iiis stepfather,
[50]
(Photostatic Copy)
90 The Mystical Body of Christ in the Modern World
Fonvard, which is a Judaeo -Bolshevik organ, gave a>
subscription for the same purpose.
" Through Stuukhaliu, the Jaw, Max Warbuig, "was
likewise furnishing funds to Trotsky and Co. They
were also in receipt of funds from the Weatphahan-
Khineland Syndicate, which is an important Jewish
enterprise^ as well as from another Jew, Olaf Aschberg,
of the ' Nya Banken ' of Stockholm, and from Givotovsky,
a Jew, whose daughter ia married to Trotsky- Thus tho
communications weve set up between the Jewish multi-
millionaires and the Jewish proletarians.
''Section III.— In October, 1917, the social revolu-
tion took place in Russia, thanks to which certain Soviet
organizations took over the dirf^ction of the Russian
people. In these Soviets the following individuals made
themselves remarkable :
Assum&d Niune Real Name Nationality
Lemn . . Oulianow (UlianofE) . . Russian. ^
Trotsky (Trotzky) Bronstein .. Jewish.
Steckioff . . Nakhames . .* .Jewish.
Martoff . . Zederbaum . . Jewish.
Zinovieff . . Apfelbaum . . Jewish.
KamenefE . . Rosenfeld . . Jewish,
Ban . . Gourevitch (Yurewitsch) Jewish.
Ganetzky . . Furstenberg . . Jewish.
Parvus . . Helpfand . . Jewish.
XJritzky . . Padomilsky . . Jewish.
Larin . , Lurge . * Jewish.
Bohrin . , Nathansohn . . Jewish.
KarfinofB . * Zibar , . Jewish.
Bogdajioff . * Zilberstein . . Jewish.
G^irin . , Garfeld . . Jewish.
SuchanoS . . Gimel . . Jewish.
Kamnelfl , . Goldmann . . Jewish.
Sagersky . . Kroohmann . . Jewish.
RiazanoS . , Goldenbach , . Jewish.
Solutzeff , . Bieichmann . . Jewish.
Piatnitzky , . Ziwin . . Jewish.
Axelrod . . Orthodox . * Jewish.
Glasunoff .. Schulta© •. Jewish.
Zuriesain . . Weinstein . . Jewish.
Lapinsky . . Loewensohn » * Jewish."
^The pffiaent writer wishes to add that some ftuthors are convioced-
jthat Lenin's motb&r was a Jewess.
151 j
(Photostatic Copy)
The Agents of JRevohiHon 9i
"Secticn IV.— At the same time the Jew, Paul
Warburg, who had been in reJatioii with^ the Federal
Keesrve Board, was remarked to be in active contact
With certain BolshevUs notablhties in the United States.
ihas cii'cumstance, together with other points about
which information had been obtained, was the cause
of his not being re-e]ected to the above-mentioned
Committee.
''Section VI.~On the other hand, Judas Magnea
subsidized by Jacob SchifF, is in close contact with the
>^orId-wide Sionist organization, Foale Zion, of which
he IS m fact the director. The final end of this organiza-
tion^ is to estabhsh the international supremacy of the
Jewish Labour Movement. Here again we see the
connexion between the Jewish multi-miihonaires and
the Jewish proletarians.
"Section F/7,— Scarcely had the social revolution
broken out in Germany when the Jewess, Rosa Luxem-
bourg, aiitomatically assumed the political direction
of It. One of the chief leaders of the International
Bolshevik Movement was the Jew, Haase. At that
time the social revolution in Germany developed along
the same lines as the social revolution in Kussia.
" Section VIIl.—U we bear in mind the fact that the
Jewish EanMng-House of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. is in touch
with the Westphahan-Rhineland Syndicate, German-
Jewish House, and ^ith the Brothers Lazare, Jewish
House in Paria, and also with the Jewish House of
Guazbourg of Petrograd, Toldo and Paris ; if, in addition,
we remark that all the above-mentioned Jewish Houses
are in close correspondence with the Jewish House
of Speyer & Co. of London, New York and Prankfort-
on-the-Main, as well as with thb ' j\>a Banken/ Judaeo-
Bolshevik establishment at Stockholm, it will be manifest
that the Bolshsvik movement is in a certain measure
the expression of a general Jewish movement and that
certain Jewish Banldng-Houses are interested in the
organization of this movement."
A few additional remarks about some of the personages
above-mentioned may be of interest. According to the
1 1 have here translated literally from the French. Perhaps the ori&iDal
English may have been ■' acting on " instead of " ia relation with."
152 1
(Photostatic Copy)
APPENDIX I
JEWISH POWER
A.
i^^.Tlie. Jiussian Revolution and the English Official White. Pa^er,
Russia, No. 1, 1919," b?j G. P. Mudg^, in ''Loyalty," June,
1924.)
WHY DOES THE ERTTISU IFORKIGN OFFICE SFPPRESS THE
TRUTH UNPALATABLE TO JEWRY ?
In the April issue of the Loyally League 1 dealt with tho
attempt rnside, in the course of a series of lectures by a ]\Ir.
M. !Fa.rbm.iu, At the London School of Econoimcs, to transfer
the responsibility for the hideous Russian revolution of 1917
.from tho real perpetrators, the Jews, and to ascribe it to a purely
^graiian movement among the peasants. I undertools: in that
^article to marshal tho voluininous and conclusive evidence that
this revolutioji was entirely Jewish in organization and operation,
*to show that it had nothmg to do with an agrarian movement,
'or indeed ^vith any cause that had Russian interests in view,
^^Perhaps one of the most damning pieces of evidence, not
only that this revolution, but alj^o the world - rev olati on which
is planned, .is Jewish, lies in tho strenuous and partially successful
efiorts which organized JeTi-ry has made to suppress the truth
about it. Not only has Jewry succeeded in largo measure in
STippres&ing the truth; but it has seemingly been able to intimi-
date orcajole the British Foi-eig7i Office to suppress a very vital
^aHof one of its own- official publication's,
'what has EECOME of the OrnCIAL ^VKITE TATl^H, ?
-In April, 1919, there was pubhshcd by the command of His
Majesty^ ^5,nd -hy His Majesty's Stationery Office, a White
Paper entitled, Russia, No. I (1910). A Collection of Reports on
Bolshevism in Russia. The Foreword, on p, 6^ is a-s follows : — ■
" The foUo-ft-ing collection of Reports from His Majesty's official
representatives in Russia, from other British subjects who have
recently returned from that country, and from independent
witnesses of various nationalities, covers the period of the
Bolshevik regime from the Summer of 1918 to the present date.
■ They arc issued in accordance with a decision of the War Cabinet
in Jamuiry last. Tliey are unaccompanied by anything in
the nature either of comment or introduction, since they
i9i
53]
liifcirffe'iihr^i^
(Photostatic Copy)
292 The Mystical Body of Chrhi in th Modem World
speak for themselves ia the picture which they -nresent of thn
pnnciples and methods of Bolshevik ™ie, the a^aS indints
wU\tvo flow '/r •''^^rP'Tl' '""^ --o-ic cofse" nences
PuIllS'bV^th™ fi^^V ™' ^"S™''"' "^^ " th"'' ^tood was
Tt ».= u^ Pf, ^° decsion af the British War Cabinet
It was suoh an appallmg document, that it needed neitlier com
ment explanation nor extension. The infoi^Sn In t came
from H,s Majesty's official representatives in Russl and hZ
■ wrd™t* "^'TT ^¥ ^'^ 'Otaniedfrom that ountry t™
ih-st-band Imowledge of condition,, The testimony frTm'll
Cromie having been murdered by tl.e Bolsheviks. The part
■' The foregoing report will indicate the extremelv critical
nature of the present situation. The danger is nTw so g e?
that I feeln my duty to call the attention of the Bri?,slfand
all other Governments to the fact that, if an end is r^ot nuf
to Bolshevism in Russia at once, the ciVili^ttirof the Ude
world will be threatened. This k not a,> e.xa-Jeration but
a sober matter of fact ; and the most unusual actJonof German
and Austrian consuls.general, befere referred to t \ouTnl
in protest of neutral legations, appear, to indicate that the
danger IS also being realized in Ge™.n and Aus trLn out te.^
I consider that the immediate suppression of Bolshev sm s
the greatest issue now before the world, not even exdudint
fioWraw. ij mppei m the bud immtdialdyji is bound to s^^
tn one farm or another otMr Europe und the u^kok^rld Z^
IS OEQANISED AKD WOBSED BY JEWS *'H0 HAVE KO N^IONaIiTV
A^n WHOSE ONE OBJECT IS TO DEsnOY ^OR JWo^^Nns
Ta! rrr' IT °' '^"'- ■•■' ""^^ b^^>^tr. report
Briluh, Office m view of its impariawe."
THE BKITISH FOEEION OFFIOE SUPPIESSBS PART OF »S OWN
PUBLISHED OFJ-ICIAL DOCUMENTS
1 '^'"'»r '^ Tital and significant report wis sent by tha Nether-
lands Alimstier in Russia, to Sir M Finlav Eriti.h LvT^ f .■
at Christia^uu, and by him teIe.l.;K^^^
154]
(Photostatic Copy)
Appendices
Britisli Foreign Office. There are many quesfcloias tKat could
very pertinently be asked concerning this report, ' But there"
are two at tlie moment that press for an. anawer- bej-'ond all
others ; (I) Why "waa this very alarming and crucial infor
mation not puhliahed in the Press t Why the almost universal
'silence cpncerning it ? Whose influence suppressed it ? (2) Why
did this official White Paper, published by His Majesty's
command at the express decision of the War Cabinet in April,
1919, disappear from circulation and become unobtainable ?
And why was there pubHshed in its place an abridged edition^
in which this particular passage and very little else of equal
■importance from the Netherlands Minister's report was elimin-
ated .1 So that.'when innocent and unsuspecting Englishmen
applied to His "Majesty's Stationery Office (never suspecting
gnile or deception in their own Foreign Office) for this particular
White Paper, they were given the abridged edition, without
specific attention being called to the fact.
A large proportion of those who applied iji the ordinary course
doubtless accepted what w^as given them, and little realized the
important nature of the truth which had been expunged in the
abridged edition. Some, however, wishing for the fullest
information, returned the abridged edition and asked for the
original. They were told it was out of print. That was the
message I myself received about October, 1919. I made a fei.T
subsequent appUoatious^ always with the same result. It was
an untruth for the Stationery Office to say then thaf it was
out of print.
Now we come to the crucial question ': Why was this abridged
edition substituted for the original 1 Why did the abridgement
take the form it did—i.e., ehminate the damning and sinister
fact that: ''Bolshevism i3 organized and worked by Jews wh&.
have no imiiofmliiy, arid whose one object is to destroy for tjieir
own ends the existing order of things."
Why ie the original edition, unobtainable ? It is an official
document and therefore pubhc property. Under w^hab con-
stitutional right does the British Foreign Office refuse to supply
it?
It is obviously and logically clear that there ia only on© race
on earth that has any interest in the suppression of this official
document, and that race is the Jewish race.. No other raca
nor any civilized Government can be benefited by its suppression,
for the report within it says quite specifically : " The danger ia
now so great that I feel it my duty to call the attention of thsi
British and oU other Governments to the fact that, if an end is
not put to Bolshevism in Russia at oncOj the civilization of ih&
whole world will be threatened."
155]
Let Us Consider the Record
Sunday, November 27, 1938
Following last Sunday's broadcast a vicious campaign of mis-
representation, based upon fancy and not upon fact, has been
carried on not only against me, but against the cause I represent.
These attacks, originating with an unprecedented and unsup-
portable announcement made by station WMCA of New York,
were the results of last Sunday^s broadcast. Please bear that point
m mind. These attacks stand or fall on the contents of last Sun-
day's broadcast.
They were centered upon the following unjustifiable
accusations :
1. Coughlin attacks Jews in the most un-American speech
ever delivered.
2. Coughlin defends Naziism and the Nazi pogroms.
3. Coughlin asserts that Lenin, Stalin and Lapinsky are
Jews.
4. Coughlin says that 30-million Christians were murdered
in Russia.
5. Coughlin is in error when he refers to certain Jewishi
bankers and when he quotes from "The American Hebrew
Magazine."
6. And, finally, Coughlin is a sadist, which word means
that he is a sexual pervert who obtains gratification from witness-
ing the sufferings of others.
Passingly, may I state that some of the critics did not hear
last Sunday's broadcast, as evidence proves. Passingly, may I
remark, this afternoon's presentation will enable us to distinguish
the supporters of Communism from its opponents.
Respect for myself and my Christianity compels me to answer
evei-y one of these charges.
I beg no quarter. It is my hope that my critics ask for none.
[561
Following this afternoon's address, I trust that, henceforth,
Lhese gentlemen, both in the press and out of it, will change their
out-moded, inefficient and childish tactics— tactics which belong to
;i previous century.
Let me become more specific in discussing these charges.
1. Specifically, some rabbis maintain that last Sunday's dis-
.■ourse was aa attack against all Jews and was totally un-American.
I^abbi Franklin of Temple Beth El, Detroit, said: "The address
i.f Father Coughlin was one of the most vicious talks that I have
listened to in a long time."
Rabbi Cohen of tlie Cleveland Jewish Center, said: "It (last
Sunday's talk) was the most un-American speech I have ever
Ucard. It was a pack of lies and statements shrewdly calculated
\o arouse anti-Semitic reaction in the country."
From proof Avhich I am able to offer, this vast audience will
he able to judge for itself if the speech was either vicious or un-
American, or a pack of lies. It was an address whose mam objec-
lis^e was to point out the cause of all persecution— persecution of
Cliristians as well as of Jews.
Admittedly, I did attack and will continue to attack atheistic
lev/s and atheistic gentiles and those who sustain them.
But, as a matter of record, I will prove that actually I invited
and still invite the non-Communist, non-atheistic Jews, whom I'
respect and with whom I deeply sympathize, to join with me in
combating Communism.
2. Specifically, I am referring to "The Detroit Times^' and
lo the Communist ''Daily Worker," The headlines of the former
shouted in last Monday's edition: "Storm of Protest Rises Here
:ls Coughlin Defends Nazis. More than 100 telephone calls and
25 telegrams and letters were received by radio station WJR last
night and today protesting the radio address of Father Charles E.
Coughlin defending Naziism ..."
The latter's headlines say: "Coughlin — Defender of Nazi
l)ogroms.''
I will prove that these are gross misrepresentations of fact.
I will prove that I did not defend Naziism but condemned it
\'-Lgorously. I will prove that I condemned the Nazi pogroms.
[57]
to 3' telephone cal s and 25 telegrams and letters referred
to as a scorm of protest" .s worse than a half-truth. This paper
forgot to say that many of these telephone calls and some of ?he
telegrams were sent to station WJR before the address was even
men? of'wjR " ''"""'' '" "''' ''" ''''''"''"' '^ *^ ™""^"
Chfonirh?"'phT \l ^"' ''^'""i"^ '° *= '=d'*°'- °f "The Jewish
^^^ZV ' ^ P. Slomovitz, who said: "The entire thesis of the
Stain as' W'a™.°" f^'" t'" J""' "^^" "'^^ '^^'^'^ ^enin and
h» c'7''f '^•"'"'^f" °^ .P™°^ '" "P°" '''"' (Father Coughlin) when
he speaks m staggcrmg: figures of 30^million murdered."
Dart'^o^''tL"i^*''*'"''"i' ^"' -^^'^ *° '■'=^"*«- A=^ f"'- th'^ concluding
part of the charge made agamst me by Mr. Slomovitz - a char J
ht TZ'T^ ? ' ?'*'°^*. "™'sPaP^^ ^s a direct quotation from
,™r ■ , ? '"''A""" ™"=^^'^ ^'^'■ds ^^ith which to meet thS
o a sIZt He's, •d'' nrr,"'''*'"^" "^^ "'^"^^ ^"^^ P^''-" -^* 'h^
ot a sadist. He said : It takes a sadist to scoff over the misfor-
tunes of a people who produced his Saviour ..."
"saSft'" l°Zff°'"''"'^" ^^'^ '"'"'^ '^^ <^^fi"=tion of the word
sadist. A sadist is a sexual pervert who obtains ^ratification
from witnessing the sufferings of others. gratmcation
When this editor reminds us that his is the nation that pro-
compassion upon the multitudes^and still has, though they be
Jew or gen ile-the same Christ, beloved by the people but alas
often hated by the people's leaders. '
Eminent sir, I will restrain myself ahhough, perforce I must
remmd you that this Christ, this Cornerstone of civihzation Who
was once rejected by the builders of your nation, rose from the
tomb m ^vhich they sealed His Corpse.
In another sense, and m our day, the great tomb of ignorance
of deception and of publicized calumny, wherein our generation S
buried. IS awaiting the dawn of a new Easter morning^ Once more
[58]
Christ is about to move among the children of men! Even now
His voice is sounding in the Ghetto of Berlin, in the Bronx of New
York, in the Red Square of Moscow and on the battle-scarred
fields of Spain — sounding and re-echoing the invitation to Jew
and careless Christian: "Come to Me, all you that labour, and are
burdened, and I will refresh you." (Matt. 11 :28).
"For centuries you have been tied to the pillar of persecution :
I will release you. In every land, under every flag, you have been
forced to wear a crown of thorns! Come unto Me and I wiU re-
fresh you."
4, Specifically and finally, I mention Professor Johan Smer-
tenko. He is the executive director of the Nonsectarian Anti-Nazi
League. This anti-Nazi — I do not know if he is anti- Communist —
said that I was in error in stating that 56 of 59 members of a
certain Soviet group were Jews.
He also said that there was no reference in any official publica-
tion of the British War Cabinet in 1919 that Kuhn. Loeb and
Company had financed the Russian Revolution.
And, finally, he asserted that I misquoted "The American
Hebrew" and invented the name of Lapinsky as one of the leading
Jews in the Russian Revolution,
With this gentleman I shall deal last and thoroughly.
But before I dispose of these untruthful charges, permit me
to prepare you for what follows by pointing out that last Sunday's
discourse was divided into six main thoughts ; The speech showed :
1. That unparalleled publicity was given to the recent Jewish
persecution in Germany culminating in a $400-million fine against
()00.000 Jews, which publicity was a blessing because it brings the
whole problem of persecution into the open ;
2. That the persecution of the Jews in Germany is to be
condemned because it is an injustice ;
3. That there were definite causes that produced the effect
known as Naziism. According to German statements the Jews
were too closely interwoven with the growth of Communism in
Germany; and Jews held many important positions in the Com-
munist state of Russia, being responsible, in part, for financing
Ihe Russian Revolution;
[59 1
4. Ihat despite this charge on the part of the Nazi govern-
ment, persecution IS an injustice and must not be tolerated: that
while we are deahng with the subject of persecution, let us of
this generation hquidate aU persecution— persecution by Com-
munists of Christians as well as persecution by Nazis of Jews;
(Approximately 20-mdlion^not 30-minion-Christians were done
to death in Russia.)
■ \- P^^ '^ '"^^^ regrettable that the press and radio in America
m which avocations Jews have risen to such high prominence-
that these were not employed to complain vigorously about the
persecution of Christians in recent years ;
6. That these recent years have gone; that this is our vear
I emphasized that we of this age should distil our sympathy not
only from the tears of Jewish sufferers but also from ?he blood
thereof''' '^''''^^'"^ eliminate all persecution and the cause
These six points form a skeleton of last Sunday's broadcast
which was neither unpatriotic nor tm-American nor anti-Tewish
nor pro-Nazi, -^ ^'"'^">
Ladies and gentlemen, friends and critics, I am ably prepared
to defend my position in the next half-hour.
Without fear of intelligent contradiction I shall repeat ver-
batim last Sundays broadcast The voice you will hear will be
my voice But I shall not be speaking directly to you,. It will be
my recorded voice. ^ ^ ^ uc
Be it known that, previous to last Sunday, arrangements were
made to have my discourse recorded as I spoke. An exact record-
ing of every word and syllable, every cough, every rustle of the
paper froni which I read— all was recorded electrically at Stein-
way Hall New York City, while I was speaking. There^is no ^h e
shghtest opportunity to change that record. This is the new in-
vention which I hereby make use of to confound the critics who
attempted to put untruthful words in my mouth and malicbus
motives m my mind, when as a matter of record, I was s mpW
TJstToV^" ^■'^'^' ^7r '^^ '^' ^""^ -^^"^^^^^ «^ ^^^^■^^-" t^ ^tan^
last togethei against Communism from which Naziism was born.
hear will be the recorded voice-not the direct voice^of last Sun-
fntrndfT"^'''' ^'^'' J'l^'^'^-^^ ^'^^^^^^^ ^' '^' Conclusion of hi
introduction, my recorded voice wiU be heard. In the meantime, I,
[60]
liie defendant, shall be seated here in my chair listening to myself
.k'livering last Sunday's broadcast, upon which depends your
vrrdict.
As you weigh well the words and the tenor of the transcribed
speech, please bear in mind that on the basis of last Sunday's
discourse I was accused of being un-Americaiij a defender of
Maziism, a sadist and an anti-Semite. Bear in mind that I am
,uxused of saying Stalin and Lenin are Jews; that 30-million
( 'hristians were murdered by Communists.
TRANSCRIPTION
(See address of November 20, 1938 entitled ''Persecution
fnvish and Christian." )
Following the Transcription
Ladies and gentlemen, that is the end of the transcription which
brought you my recorded voice. Speaking to you directly through
I he microphone, I now address you, the judge and jury.
But before the presentation of my case is completed, let me
ufrcr rebuttal to the charges issued by Professor Smertenko — ■
I he spokesman for station WMCA of New York City. Briefly,
iliis professional anti-Nazi called into question my statement rela-
li\'e to the Kuhn, Loeb contribution to the Russian Revolution;
Ik- discounted my reference to 'The American Hebrew Maga-
zine" ; and maintains that there was exaggeration in my use of the
list of atheistic Jews participating in the Russian Revolution ; and,
linally, he discredits the name, Lapinsky, which I mentioned in last
Sunday's address.
It is regrettable that I am forced to read into the record a part
id a closely guarded, certified document. I trusted that I should be
■.jiared doing this in order to avoid personalities.
However, since I am forced to defend myself, not for myself,
lint for tlic cause I uphold, let me introduce into court as my wit-
ness the scholarly Professor Denis Fahey.
[611
■n
_ Professor Dems Fahey-^ne of the most outstanding scholars
m Ireland— an honor graduate in arts, philosophy, divinity eco-
nomics and sociology is a professor of philosophy at Blackrock
berninary, Dublin, Ireland. He says on page 88 in "The Mystical
Body of Christ m the Modern World :"
"The chief document, treating of the financing of the Russian
Kcyolution, is the one drawn up by the American Secret Service
and transmitted by the French High Commissioner to his Govern-
ment It was published by the 'Documentation Catholique' of Paris
on March 6th, 1920, and preceded by the following remarks ■ The
authenticity of this document is guaranteed to us. With regard to
the exactness of the information it contains, the American Secret
bervice takes responsibility.' "
In appendix 1, page 291 of Fahey's work, you may read the
complete story of the suppression of the original British "White
Paper. Only a few of the original copies are extant.
Section I :
" 'In February, 1916, it was first discovered that a revolution J
was being fomented in Russia. It was found out that the following !
persons as well as the banking-house mentioned were eneasjed in
this work of destruction: *
rr '\'-^^t^°^ ^^"'^ "^J^"^^' Guggenheim (Jew); Max Breitung I
(Jew); Kuhn, Loeb & Co. (Jewish Banking-house), of which the ^
following sre the directors : Jacob Schiff, Felix Warburg, Otto '
Kahn, Mortimer Schiff, S. H. Hanauer (all Jews).
" There can be no doubt that the Russian Revolution which
broke out a year after the information given above had been re-
mved, was launched and fomented by distinctively Jewish in-
ur '^^ f "'^^^^'' ""^ ^^'^^' ^^ ^P^^^' ^^^^ J^cob Schiff made afl
public declaration that it was thanks to his financial help that the
Kussian Revolution had succeeded.' "
Section 11 of the official report reads: " ' In the spring of
191/, Jacob Schiff began to supply funds to Trotsky (Jew) to
bring about the social revolution in Russia.' "
Ladles and gentlemen, bear in mind that Dr. Fahey is quoting
the report of the American Secret Service and other material He
has made available for all the world to read what was restricted
only to the few some years ago.
[62 1
I
On page 90 of the same book, Father Fahey brings out the
point in Section III of the American Secret Service Report which
was transmitted by the French High Commissioner to his govern-
ment that the real name of Lapinsky is Loewensohn and that 56
imt of 59 members of this quasi-cabinet were Jews. Moreover,
the Jewish Soviet paper, "Moment," and the "Soviet Official Year
liook" give the German-Jewish names of the 59 commissars.
Thus, ladies and gentlemen, I submit evidence which cannot be
gainsaid easily by Professor Smertenko, the professional anti-Nazi
whose source of information is an expurgated edition of the
Uritish "White Paper" — an edition from which the parts which I
<luoted to you were deleted, as every honest student of history
Itnows.
Unfortunately, Dr. Smertenko is opposed publicly only to
Maziism. Fortunately, Dr. Fahey is opposed to both Naziism and
( 'ommunism.
As for the quotation I used last Sunday from 'The American
Hebrew Magazine," I still stand by it. Any child can verify it in
any well organized library.
My appeal is nearly completed. In review may I submit that
tlie plaintiffs in the case are my critics. Their charges are that I
have been guilty of un-Americanism ; that I have been a supporter
i)i Naziism; that I have been a spreader of anti-Semitism; and
that I am guilty of sadism.
As witnesses to sustain these charges, these critics solicited the
testimony of outstanding rabbis, of eminent editors and of a sym-
[jathetic press.
Before the court of public opinion they went, following last
Sunday's broadcast. They based their testimony upon the ad-
dress to which you have just listened. I was un-American, so it is
inferred, because I attempted to stir up the sympathies of a cal-
l(^used world in behalf of Christians. I was guilty of Naziism, so
one is led to believe, because I maintained that Naziism, although
,in injustice, was a defense mechanism against Communism. I
was anti-Semitic, I suppose, because I mildly castigated atheistic
fews, the haters of religion. And, finally, I was addicted to sadism
hccause one witness, without foundation, maintained that I gloried
111 the persecutions meted out to the Jews in Germany.
False witnesses swore once before in Pilate^s hall I
[63]
Appreciating that tlie maj ority of Americans had not heard last
buiK^ys discourse, these witnesses heralded abroad the charfft
that 1 named Stalin and Lenin as Jews ; you know that I did not
make such statements. They scoffed at me for having broadcast
tnat JU-million Christians had been murdered when your own ear=:
told you I said 20-minion in one place and 25-million for all the
world.
Before you I stand as the defendant. I rest my case on the
internal evidence of the faithful recording of last Sunday's ad-
dress. 1 ask you to weigh the evidence carefully.
Was that the most un-American speech you ever heard?
Was it a pack of lies, as one prominent Rabbi maintained ?
-^i."^^ ^ ^- supporter of Naziism, which charge was printed by
I he Detroit Times .^" ■
If it is un-American to bestir sympathy for persecuted Chris-
tians, then I must plead guilty.
_ If I am an advocate of Naziism when I decry both Commun-
ism and Nazusm, then I plead guihy.
And if I have no argument to offer you to disprove that I
am a sadist, then I must humbly bow before the charge and rest
my case before the kindly tribunal of this audience.
Ladies and gentlemen, I await your decision — and so does
America. Whoever you are, wherever you are, let charity be
your counsel.
There is no Jewish question in America. Please God, may
there never be one. However, there is a question of Communism
in America.
Please God we will solve it. If Jews persist in supporting
Communism directly or indirectly, that will be regrettable. By
their failure to use the press, the radio and the banking house "
where they stand so prominently, to fight Communism as vigorous- ^
ly as they fight Naznsm, the Jews invite the charge of beino- sup-'
porters of Communism.
-For, as Christ said, "you are either with Me or against Me."
In conclusion may I refer to the American Jewish Congress
held in New York last October. Speaking of this group represent-
ing the Jews of the United States of America, particularly, "The
New York Times" of October 31st, m its story of the openino-
session says :
164]
"The mention of Communism threw the convention into an
uproar when delegates and visitors attempted to shout down
Abraham Levin, a St. Louis, Mo., delegate, who demanded that
;i proposed declaration of the convention's principle be amended
.■.) include a denunciation of Communistic theories. After heated
iliscussion Mr, Levin withdrew his demand."
There is evidence that Jewry is silent on Communism and is
icluctant to oppose it. There is the question of so-called anti-Semit-
ism which is really anti-Communism.
N. B. This is the manuscript as prepared but for lack of time
it was impossible for Father Coughlin to deliver the whole dis-
course over the air. What he delivered over the air is on the record.
165]
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
"'Our Father, Who art in heaven/'
Almighty God ! We who pronounce the sacred name of Father
—we who glory in it — mock Thee if we do not accept as brothers
every human creature fashioned by Thy hand.
Behold us in our misery ! Brothers though we are, our sinful
deeds proclaim that we are enemies.
With a rivalry that exceeds that of the beasts of the jungle, we
seek to destroy each other.
Instead of gifts to the afflicted in distant lands, our ships carry
cargoes of death.
Instead of peace, we plan for war.
Maginot lines, fortifications, bayonets and bombs^these we
extend in oar right hand of fellowship to those whom we will not
accept as brothers.
Threats, insults and vituperations— these fierceful mani-
festations of hate we have exchanged for words of peace, of
justice and of love. O God^ cleanse our lips, hypocritical lipSj
which speak the words, "Our Father."
Once more, deign to teach us that fatherhood in God means
brotherhood in man.
Once more instil in our hearts the fear of chastisement, if we.
persist in the blasphemy of uttering the Lord's Prayer which calls
Thee Father, while we insist upon treating our feilowmen as if
they were enemies.
^^Our rather, Who art in heaven, halloiued be Thy name."
Yes, hallowed be Thy name !
Too long have we been sounding the praises of men of blood
— men who have marshaled the yovXh of every nation for death.
Too long have we been honoring the names of those who have
been memorable as trumpeteers for war.
Too long have we been loud in our praise for those who
preach the gospel of hate, of lust, of worldliness and of self.
Thy name and Thy name alone must be hallowed; for Thy
[66]
name signifies power that is illimitable; love that is unmeasured;
lieauty that is incomparable; justice that is infinite and goodness
ihat is unbounded.
^'Thy kingdom come"
O Gud, grant that the tears of this world will be turned into
i>earls!
God grant that needless poverty shall be banished !
God grant that needless heartaches shall vanish 1
God grant that needless suffering shall cease 1
God grant that Thy kingdom soon will come !
O, we have lived to see the day when the royal King Whom
Thou didst send to rule us hast been torn from the throne of
justice and love.
We have witnessed mad usurpers wielding scepters — scepters
oL" terror before which cringe millions of Thy sons awaiting the
Lish of persecution in a new dungeon.
O God, grant that foolish men will unite to rebel against this
lierce tyranny of hate and injustice !
O God, grant that as brothers, soHdly united, we will restore
Thy Son to His rightful throne !
May His scepter of love and justice rule every nation, rule
rv^ery department of life — our homeS; our factories and fields, our
industries and commerce, our government itself f
"Thy zv-ill he done on earth as it is in heaven.'^
Today, O God, we mourn as we reflect upon the once glorious
capitals of Europe run red with the blood of martyrs.
Today, O God, we are sad because our legislators have written
];lws reflecting the minds of materialists, laws that blot out the
l.iws of God!
And today, O God, we repent because ''Thy will be done" has
Mfjt been our policy. We repent because we have substituted the
ickly candle of our flickering reason for the noon-day shining of
I bine infinite intelhgence !
Give us pDwer^ give us courage — courage even unto death,
1 ) God, to marshal our forces to battle for Thy Will ; for, with-
iHit it, man's arrogant will leads but to the grave, to dissolution
,iiid to death!
[67]
"Give its this day our daily bread/*
O God, our Father, Whose loving heart has called into bloom
the grams of the field and the fniits of the trees J
Thou, our Benefactor, Who didst share with some of Thy
sons Thy wisdom, enabling them to discover for us the secrets
of nature to the end that their inventions would lift the burdens
f roni the shoulders of men !
O God,, Who through Thy children hast multiplied machinery
and multiplied wealth ! ^
O God, Who once didst say that "the earth is the Lord's and
the fulness thereof," we plead with Thee once again to perform
the miracle of the loaves and the fishes [
Give bread to the hungry, clothing to the naked and shelter
to the homeless in this land of plent}^
And more than that, O God, not only for the daily bread by
which our bodies live, do we ask! Give us this dav our daily
bread that our mmds may know the truth.
Give us this day our daily bread that our hearts may know
the sweet emotions of a brother's love.
r ^,rL^^ ^^^^^ ^^>' ^^^^ ^^^^y ^1'^^*^ which will enlighten the '^ouls
o± all ihy children to seek first Thy kingdom and Thy justice
whence all good things flow.
O bread and truth and love— these have been denied us !
Wicked men have conspired against Thee and Thy Christ andJ
Jrlis brothers. '
Cruel men have buiMed for us a golden calf to worship,
['Forgive ns our trespasses as we forgive those mho trespass .
against us. ^
q God, no one realizes better than dost Thou the enormitv of "
our sms !
We have turned our face from Thee, the Light Supernal.
We have praised what Thou didst condemn.
We have practised what Thou didst forbid.
We have worshipped in the templg" of/the" thief, Earabbas;
ti-admg love for hatred, faith for reason and, for the throne whici
168]
Thou hast prepared for us in Thy mansion above, a sinful ;
worldliness. ' j
About us thunder recriminations, charges and heated words |j|
of anger. '■
About us factories ihat should be busied manufacturing the
productive good things of this life are busied fashioning ammu-
nition, battleships, shrapnel and lethal gas,
On every hand is heard the whirr of persecution's lash.
Upon every shoulder are raised the welts of suffering. O God,
we have learned at last that persecution can not be destroyed by
persecution, that security can not be achieved by unjust wars or
unjust treaties !
God, let us learn to forgive and be forgiven, to be kind, gen-
tle, humble and repentant.
"And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from: evil.
Amen."
Thus, O God, in these days when the spirit of Thy sons is
tempted to raise on high the sword of anger, let us remember that
they who use the sword shall perish by it !
O lead us not into the temptation of revenge [
O deliver us from evil of selling our birthright for a mess of
commercial pottage !
From these things, O God, deliver us \
From hate and lust, O God, deliver us !
From pride and self, O God, deliver us !
From false prophets, false leaders and false philosophy, O
God, deliver us !
''Our Father Who art in heaven, hallozved be Thy name; Thy
kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into
temptation, hut deliver us from evil Amen!"
[69]
Not Anti-Semitism but
Anti-Communism
Sunday, December 4, 1938
Two weeks ago the minds of our Amencan citizens were
focused upon the latest outburst of Nazi persecution directed
against the Jews of Germany. Every newspaper heralded abroad
the news of a $400^million fine imposed upon 600,000 German
Jevvs by a government which ah-eady had restricted the hberties
of Catliohc and Protestant and Jew~a government which, thanks
be to God had not resorted officially to the guillotine, the machine
gun or the kerosene-drenched pit.
This was the first time our apathetic generation was aroused
° loi"^^ distress which were sounding upon heedless ears
since i y i/ ,
wl, Jll^'fiif^'^'i^''''^ publicity was regarded as a rainbow of hope
wkch filtered through the dark clouds of despair. Recognizing
It as such, I seized the opportunity to raise my voice not only in
condemnation of this latest manifestation of persecution-but to
rinn £Ttl*^ iTlf "v ^ =y°?P^tl^eti'^ world against all persecu-
tion be It that of Catholic or Protestant, Jew or gentile.
rr.^r^^^\ k'°1'^^' h, ''"'"'= ''^'^'^'^"^ outbursts against race or
creed must be traceable to some common origin. Surely a chast-
ened world, must be willing to sacrifice its selfish racial Indnl
tronahsbc objectives to militate against the common cause of all
the afflictions experienced by all our fellowmen resident abroad.
Without attempting to minimize the atrocities of Naziism I
drew to the attention of this audience the excesses of CommunTsm
Communin ' "^'"""^ "'^ °"'^ ^ ^^'^"^^ '"«'='^=^-«" ^^^^
u^Uto^d^oTyiifii&hf-i^fiLT.?^^-^^ ^- ^- ^'- ^- *^^
That was my prayer.
70
"Let us attack Communism and destroy it from the face of
the earth, if we are scientific in our approach to the whole prob-
lem of persecution; for causes must be removed before efirects
can be destroyed."
That was my counsel.
For having made this appeal; for having suggested this coun-
sel; for having pointed out that atheistic Jews were too prominent
in furthering the cause of Lenin and Trotsky with its religion of
atheism, its patriotism of internationalism and its security of con-
fiscation, I was most unexpectedly assailed by those who charac-
terized my address as a defense of Naziism and an expression
of anti-Semitism. Of these misunderstandings I tried to dispose
last Sunday when I produced the previous Sunday's broadcast by
transcription. Unfortunately, however, those who seemingly re-
ject both my pleas and my counsels and whose official, organized
silence towards Communism manifests a most alarming situation^
unfortunately, they have not seen fit to meet my challenge of
distilling their sympathy both from the tears of Jews and the
blood of Christians. Instead they have intentionally dodged the
issue by endeavoring to confuse the public mind, particularly
through the use of managed editorials and mis-managed inter-
views. For emphasis, let me repeat that the controlled press has
faded to face the issue which I presented.
Would not a dispassionate judge be inclined, then, to conclude
that the effort on the part of my critics to assail my person and
scoff at my presentation of facts— would he not conclude that this
IS related to their desire to protect Communism ?
My friends, there would be no warrant for my continuing to
occupy your attention with further argumentation on this subject
had^ the press inaugurated an honest effort to arouse sympathy
against the atrocities of Communism as well as against the injus-
tices of Naziism.
But the press has failed.
Therefore, in loyalty to my fellow Christians, I, in turn, am
challenged to pursue my course.
Permit me, first, to restate the underlying principle which is
associated with persecution. To remove all persecution from the
world— persecution both of Jew and Christian— it is necessary
first to consolidate the fair-minded support of all fair-minded
citizens— Jew and gentile. To organize successfully public opin-
[71]
ion against not only Na^iism, which no sensible American Chris-
tian can logically support, but also against Communism, which no
religious Jew can honestly sustain, we must have as our objective
social justice for all— social justice whose principles are founded
upon the teachings of Jesus Christ.
_ It appears that those who are content to go only half way in
this program; that those who are reluctant to attack atheistic
Communism— it appears that at present they are concerned with
an attempt to stultify the statements I made about Communism,
by dismissing them with generic denunciations.
Since this is the weapon which they choose, I am constrained
to continue my battle. I must Hft up the shield of defense against
false assertions. I must use the sword of factual truth to oppose
them, lest my silence be interpreted as surrender; and lest such a
surrender be regarded as a victory for the anti-Nazis over those
whose battle cry is "Anti-Nazi and a nti- Communist and anti-
mjustice, with Christ over all !"
_ Therefore^ this afternoon, I will pursue my case by consider-
ing the arguments presented by my critics last week to sustain
their untenable position of silence regarding Christian persecu-
tion. My opponents' arguments are classified :
1. In the editorials of certain newspapers ;
2. In the arguments of Alexander Kerensky and Leon Trot-
sky;
3. In the publicized statement made by Kuhn, Loeb and
Company ;
4. In the statement attributed to the office of the American
Secret Service.
As to the newspapers and their adverse editorials of the past
week, do you recollect the complaint which I uttered two Sundavs
ago?
On that occasion 1 expressed the thought that when millions
of ^_hrlstlans m Russia, Mexico and Spain were made targets of
the machine gun, little or no publicity was given by the publir
press to these persecutions which future generations will regard
as the worst atrocities of all times. Then there was a silent press.
Then there was a venal press that eulogized those responsible for
estabhshing a policy of recognizing Russia. Then there was a
calloused press that belittled the grief of Spain and Mexico.
Although many newspapers have not taken a position of "hands
E72]
off the Communist question'^ and ^ 'hands off those whose silence
supports it/' yet a powerful group of papers practically have
adopted that attitude. They gloss over our recognition of Russia.
They applaud when congratulations are cabled to the haters of
Christ. They vacillate betAveen the Spanish loyalists and rebels.
They praise the Uberalism of Mexico.
And why? You ask me "Why?"
"Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?" (Matt.
7T6) or ''Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes; or the vine
figs?" (Jas, 3:12).
It is not in a spirit of retaliation that I remind you of these
things ; for you know that the editorial content of many papers
is colored by the logic of the advertising doUar-^the advertising ■
dollar which manages editorials. Nor is it in a spirit of revenge
that I use the following concrete example to prove the vicious-
ness of an Inspired press whose editorials and news articles iimm-
fest a serious lack of responsibility and honesty. But in a spirit
of truth and of courage to defend truth, I dare to unfold for you
the following concrete story of a typical controlled newspaper^
a story where those, or their representatives, who control the
advertising dollar, control the freedom of the press.
Last week Rabbi Leo M. Franklin of Temple Eeth El, Detroit,
Michigan, sought an interview with Mr. Henry Ford to discuss
with him, among other things, the possibility of the Ford organ-
ization's engaging the services of certain refugee Jews whom the
Rabbi expected to be expelled from Germany.
In the presence of Mr. Ford and his executives, this matter
was discussed at some length. A resume of Mr. Ford's conversa-
tion was written by the Rabbi. Confessedly, it was the Rabbi's
composition — not Mr. Ford's. It was the Rabbi's concept of
not what Mr. Ford actually said but what Rabbi Franklin would
prefer he had said.
Following this meeting, '"The Detroit Free Press" printed a
purported first person interview with Mr. Henry Ford. It wa^
captioned by front-page headlines w^hich read:
"Ford Assails Nazis' Persecutions and Welcomes Jewish
Refugees as Valuable Addition to U. S. Life.
'Tn a statement severely critical of the Nazi persecution
of the Jews, Henry Ford Wednesday night declared that he
favored the admission of persecuted Jews to this country
under the selective quota system."
173]
The purported interview quoting Mr. Ford and carried in ail
the newspapers at home and abroad— this purported interview
quoting Mr. Ford, in the first person singular throughout— was
not given by Mr. Ford. The interview which "The Detroit Free
Press" said was given out at Dearborn, Michigan, on Wednesday
o£ last Aveek was not given out by Mr. Ford or by any of his
executives on Wednesday night or at any other time. Here, my
friends, was a gigantic attempt to put into the month of America's
foremost manufacturer words he did not say. To my mind, a
new low in editorial responsibihty — a mark seldom equalled 'in
the history of American journalism— was attained.
"Social Justice Magazine/' distrustful of the purported inter-
view carried in "The Detroit Free Press" of December 1st rela-
tive to Nazi persecution, sent its investigators to ascertain the
facts of the case.
Mr. Harry Bennett, speaking officially for the Ford Motor
Company and in the presence of Mr. Henry Ford — the same
Harry Bennett who arranged the meeting between Rabbi Franks
Iin and Mr. Ford— permits ("Social Justice Magazine") us to
say the following in a signed statement :
"1. The direct quotation carried in the paper is totally
inaccurate and was not written by Mr. Ford but was com-
posed by Rabbi Franklin.
"2. Rabbi Franklin came to see Mr. Ford to ask him if
his factory would assimilate Jewish refugees, the result of
Nazi persecution. Mr. Ford said that he believed there was
little or no persecution in Germany; if any, it was due not
to the German Government, but to the war-mongers, the in-
ternational bankers.
_ "Moreover, while Mr. Ford expressed his humanitarian ~
ism for all people, yet he believed that Jews wouldn't be con-
tent to work in factories.
"That was the essence of the talk between Mr. Ford and
Rabbi^^Franklin. But the story handed to "The Detroit Free
Press" was written by Rabbi Franklin and handed to it by
Rabbi Franklm and not by Mr. Ford."
Ladies and gentlemen, the above quotation from an article'
which will appear in "Social Justice Magazine," on this travesty
m journalism, is authentic.
There is a sample of inspired news which a controlled news-
paper dispensed for public reading, as if it were, a direct state-
ment composed by Mr. Ford himself. For what purpose, I ask?
[741
Possibly for the same purpose and subject to the same influ-
ences as when some newspapers find it profitable to adopt the
policy of silence on Christian persecution abroad, they are wdlmg
to headline the $400-million fine levied against 600,000 Jews day
after day.
By their fruits these news journals shall be known.
However, after the deluge of last week's editorial tidal wave,
whose origin we now know, I was expected to feel pretty nnich
as Mark Twain did — Mark Twain who related in his memoirs
an experience which he had as an editor in Virginia City, Nevada.
As well as I recollect, the humorist said: "Seated m my editor's
chair one day, I was confronted by the gargantuan figure of a
man I had abused in an editorial a few days before. He glowered
at me. I knew I was in for it. But, as always, my native resource-
fulness pulled me through. As the giant advanced on me, 1 stood
up. He charged. Cleverly, I contrived to get his arm around my
waist and his elbow under my chin. We wrestled about for a
moment, and I succeeded in keeping my feet high in the air. We
fell to the floor. Again my resourcefulness asserted itself. For,
by a deft movement, I got his knee in my stomach and his fingers
tight about my throat. Then I had him."
Next, permit me to analyze and refute the statements publi-
cized by Mr. Kerensky and Mr. Trotsky.
Alexander Kerensky — one of the chief witnesses whose testi-
mony is supposed to stultify my plea to oppose Communism to-
gether with Naziism — a witness whose contribution was intended
to confuse the public mind, is not well known to the younger
generation.
Mr. Kerensky was prominent for a period of seven months
in 1917. He was the leader of the first of three Russian revolu-
tions. Most men of our generation believed that he had gone to
the happy hunting ground of lost causes.
Pre-supposing that the American public has forgotten the three
Russian revolutions since 1917; pre-supposing that the public
mind entertains the error that there was only one Russian revo-
lution since that date, Mr. Kerensky arises from the tomb of the
past to remind US that he fathered "the" revolution when, as a
matter of fact, it was merely "a" revolution— a revolution which,
for shortness of life and insignificance of effect, will be classified
with the frequent uprisings which come and go with every sunset
in Central America.
175]
As a matter of record, Mr. Kerenslcy's revolution came in like
a lion in the windy month of March, 1917, and left the stage of
this troubled world like a lamb in October of that same year.
Contrary to common opinion, Mr. Kerensky did not successfully
annihilate Czarisni. As a matter of fact, it was the guns and
bayonets of the Trotskyites and Leninites that accomplished that
m July, 1918— they of the second revolution, which succeeded in
overthrowing the Kerensky government.
The first revolution was devoid of atheistic Jewish domination
and for that reason, possibly, was a failure. It lasted only seven
months.
But the second Russian revolution whidi, for the sake of clar-
ity we now refer to as the Trotsky Russian revolution, not only
drove Alexander Kerensky as a wanderer over the face of the
earth; not only murdered the Czar and his family in 1918, but
inaugurated the mass murder of 20,400,000 Christians. That was
the real _ Russian revoltition with its dictator; its subjugation of
160-niinion people; its pogroms against Christians; its professed
atheism and its advertised internationalism.
Kerensk}^, the father of the first assault against the injustices
of Czarism, practically vanished from the headlines in 1917. But
on this, the occasion of his re-appearance. I welcome the oppor-
tunity to agree with him heartily that the Jews had only an insig-
mficant_ part in his failure. I agree with him that after he fled
Russia ignominiously with the coming of the Lenins and Trotskys
m October, 1917—1 agree with him wholeheartedly that the Jews
who were successful in establishing Communism over the still-
born corpse of his socialistic effort— that these were apostate Jews,
as he calls them, or atheistic Jews, as T term them.
On one important point I do not agree with the testimony given
by this revolutionary— a testimony which was accredited extensive
space m all the important news journals of America, This witness
said, accordmg to 'The Detroit News," November 30, 1938: "The
suggestion is ridiculous that Jews financed the revolution." (He
should have qualified his statement by saying ''my revolution/')
H«i continues by stating that ''the revolutionary government
obtamed credits not through any bankers, Jewish or gentile, in
America, but from the United States Government." I say that
accordmg to reputable testimon}.', it was financed by Jacob Schiff'
Remembering that we are discussing the first Russian revolu-
tion, which flourished only from the spring until the autumn of
[76 1
1917, let me be of assistance to the failing memory of this witness
l)y quoting "The New York Times" of March 24, 1917 — a photo-
static copy of which I have before me.
On that date this newspaper said: "The movement (the Ker-
ensky revolution — Ed. Note) was financed by a New York banker
you all know and love," quoting Mr. Kennan and referring to
Mr. Jacob Schiff .
Following this statement, made by one of the then leading
foreign correspondents, "The New York Times" informs us that
a Mr. Parsons arose on the platform of Carnegie Hall and said:
"I will now read a message from White Sulphur Springs sent by
the gentleman to whom Mr. Kennan referred." (Mr. Jacob Schiff
—Ed. Note),
A portion of the message reads as follows : ''Will you say for
me to those present at tonight's meeting how deeply I regret my
inability to celebrate with the Friends of Russian Freedom the
actual reward of what we had hoped and striven for these long
years t . . . Jacob H. Schiff."
To confirm my contention that Mr. Jacob H. Schiff contrib-
uted to the activists in the Kerensky Revolution, let me quote
"The Jewish Communal Register" of New York City, 1917-1918;
edited and published by the Kehillah (Jewish Community) of
New York City. On page 1019 it states: "Mr. Schiff has always
used his wealth and his influence in the best interests of his people.
He financed the enemies of autocratic Russia and used his finan-
cial influence to keep Russia from the money market of the United
States."
Surely, these are reputable sources of information which I
present to refute Mr. Kerensky who said, ''the revolutionary gov-
ernment obtained credits not through any bankers, Jewish or
Gentile, in America, but from the United States Government."
I am not mistaken in my previous contentions unless Mr. Jacob
Schiff assumes to be identical with the American Government.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Alexander Kerensky abortive revo-
lution was a failure, possibly because it was not managed by the
revolutionary atheistic Jews, although it was financed by Mr. Jacob
Schiff, the senior partner of the Kuhn, Loeb and Compan}^
Let us now turn our attention, momentarily, to the second
Russian revolution which began in the autumn of 1917.
[77 1
Mr. Leon Trotsky was one of its prime movers. He was the
successful revolutionary. Now an exile in neighboring Mexico
this witness was persuaded to enter the lists against me last week
—a revolutionary who, after the death of Lenin and the advent
of Stalin was, m turn, forced to become a wanderer over the face
of the earth.
I believe that history will support me when I state that Leon
-Irotsky has come to court with most unclean hands. He is the
crystallization of Nero, Diocletian, Julian the Apostate, Ivan the
ferrible, Cromwell and Napoleon Bonaparte— the outstanding
mass murderer of time and eternity. This Leon Trotsky whose
correct name is Bronstem; this most unfortunate of all possible
witnesses whom my opponents could persuade to testify against
me, said last week: "The name of Jacob Schiff means nothing to
me— if Mr. Coughlm indicated an important sum, then it must be ,
pure invention."
_ I should not dignify such— shall I say-^such an unreliable
witness as is this Bronstein with a rebuttal lest the ghosts of his
ZO-million victims should rise from their resting places to assail
me.
Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to discuss the widely read
statement issued last week by the banking firm of Kuhn Loeb
and Company, disavowing its connection with Russian revolutions
m general and Mr. Jacob Schiff's financial association with them
m particular,
^ This statement appeared specifically in an early edition of
I he New York Times" on Tuesday, November 29, 1938 and
was ^vithdrawn from the later editions of that paper on that same
day. The statement, in part, reads as follows :
'*Kuhn, Loeb & Co. in a statement last night said
_ " The firm of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. has never had :
cia! relations, or other relations, with any gover
Russia, whether Czarist, Kerensky or Communist
.1. f^l additional paragraph of the same statement informs us
/L T> f u ^^^""^ ^^^'^ ^'^^^ ''^ relations with any fomenters
o± the iiolshevik uprising which destroyed the Kerensky govern-
ment, being utterly out of sympathy with their methods and
principles.
Ladies and gentlemen, the documents to which I referred in
speaking of Mr. Alexander Kerensky are pertinent to this last
contention upheld by the Kuhn, Loeb and Company last Tuesday
lor Mr. Jacob bchtff was the senior partner of that firm.
[78]
any government
m
When considering the Kuhn, Loeb and Company we are con-
sidering a unit of the generic abstraction so often referred to as
International bankers. In every nation throughout the wor d the
rarious units of this fraternity operate, shuttlmg gold back and
Forth to balance exchanges; issuing credits from nation to nation,
not only for productive commercial enterprises, but also for de-
structive and military ends.
From the sunset which marked the passing of the glories that
characterized the 13th Century, down through the welter of wars
which besmirched the pages of each succeeding age, the shadow
of the international banker hovered over every battlefield, cast
gloom over every home and fastened the burden of debt upon
every innocent babe.
Theirs is a fraternity which owes allegiance to no flag. Theirs
is a patriotism which transcends the boundaries of every nation.
For them, empires and kingdoms, principalities and republics
are chessboards.
With their shuttling of gold and credits, scepters fall; crowns
roll in the dust and millions of pawns, victimized by purchased
propaganda, are claimed by death.
Mammon is tlieir god— the god of greedy gold. International-
ism is their religion— the religion of fettered slavery.
The Kuhn, Loeb and Company statement opens the avenues
of thought which lead to such considerations; for the present
inembers of this firm are anxious to deny any relationship to any
revolution. First they should prove to a suspecting world that
Ihey have no relationship to the international bankers resident
abroad.
Kuhn, Loeb and Company is an international banking firm.
;\s such, then, I will refer to it when now considering the state-
ment it issued as well as on future occasions, if there be further
need.
Once more, then, I hereby refer to the British "White Paper"
and also to documentary evidence received from the Secret Serv-
ice. The existence of this ''White Paper" and of the ^reports
incorporated therein cannot be brushed aside by idle denial
Last week I telephoned to Dr. Denis Fahey at Blackrock
Seminary, Dublin, Ireland, asking him to re-inspect an original
British ''White Paper" from which I quoted. He assures me that
an original copy is still available, safely guarded and at my dis-
posal; that it contains not only the references which I made to it
[79 1
^^S^^^^B^
last week, but also that he has records from which I am about to
read now m connection with the assertions Issued by Kuhn Loeb
and Company to the effect that ''neither the firm of Kuh"; Loeb
anv w^v^r^ """' ^"I ""U"' ^^'^'''''' P^^^ ^^ P^^^™^' ^s^i^t^d in
whernL^' ^^^""^ Communist revolution in Russia or any^
Father Fahey quotes a document thus :
HnZ JV^?""" t"" 'u^'^J}^^ ^^'^ ^^^^ ^^^ J^^^^^l^ Banking
House of Kuhn Loeb and Co. is in touch with the Westphal
.^^"^ f ^^^"^'"^.^^^ German-Jewish House; and with
he Brothers Lazare, Jewish House in Paris; and also with
the Jewish House of Gunzbourg of Petrograd, Tokio and
-b-aris; if^m addition, we remark that all the above-mentioned
nl'r ^T^' ^^^. "^'^''^^ correspondence with the Jewish
Sron'tl^r' ^ ^'"n°^ ^""t"' ^^^^ Y«^^^ ^^^1 ^rank-
fort-on-the-Mam as well as with 'Nya Eanken/ Judaeo-^
Bolshevik establishment at Stockholm, it will be manifest that
the Bolshevik movement is in a certain measure the expres-
sion o± a g-eneral Jewish movement, ^nd that certain Tewish
movm "'^''' ''' ""'""''''^ ^^ '^'' organisation of this
Now, permit me to elaborate on this statement, which T sup-
ported with quotations from the British "White Pape '^ wl ch
was re-mspected just last week for re-assurance-let me elaborate
by referring to another collection of documents laaown as the
Sisson Report. This latter collection of documents. wLoJeaa hen-
ticity IS guaranteed by the National Board for Hi loric4l Service
i^i^^^"^'' ^^' '' ''''''^' ^^ '^^ ^-^^^^ States Con!
.No\ ember Znd, 1914. Among other things, it says ;
wlJ^rnTf^ and Lunacharsky (two Russian revolutionists
who_ rose to prommence m the Bolshevik days^Ed Xotel
got m touch with the Imperial Bank of Germany through the
bankers D. Rubenstein Max Warburg, and Parvus. Zino-
hrlof iT'f ^".^,f .'" Rubenstein and Lunacharskv
iort m P™' ' '" ^^ "'^"^"^^' ^"^^'^"-^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ f«^^-d sup-
Here then, the International Bankers, amon- them a W\r-
S Bal' ""' '"""f^' ^''^'''^' associated with the Kuhn
Sut?on "''' '^' internationalists aiding and abetting
[80]
Document No. 64 of the Sisson Report — an official document
— is a letter written by J. Furstenberg to Raphael Scholan
(Schaumann) on September 21^ 1917. It says:
"Dear Comrade:
"The Office of the banking house M. Warburg has opened
in accordance with telegram from president of Rhenish-
Westphalian Syndicate an account for the undertaking of
Comrade Trotsky. The attorney (agent) purchased arms and
has organized their transportation and delivery up to Lttleo
and Varde. Name to the office of Essen & Son in Luleo,
receivers, and a person authorized to receive the money de-
manded by Comrade Trotsky.
''J. Furstenberg."
Of course the world knows the relationship existing between
AI. Warburg and the banking house of Kuhn, Loeb and Com-
pany — the banking house which last week is reported to have said
also that the late Jacob Schiff "had no relations with any foment-
ers of the Bolshevik uprising which destroyed the Kerensky gov-
ernment ..."
The document from which I just quoted (Document No. 64)
definitely relates to Trotsky's revolution against Kerensky— -the
second Russian revolution. And it definitely indicates the activi-
(ies of international bankers in fomenting Communism — -bankers
who have intimate financial relations with the firm of Kuhn, Loeb
and Co.
Li quoting the Sisson Report, which deals with the German-
Bolshevik conspiracy, we read in the introduction that the "Com-
mittee on Public Information publishes herewith a series of com-
munications between the Bolsheviks themselves.
'The documents shoAV that the present heads of the Bolshevik
(Tovernment (1918) — Lenin and Trotsky and their associates—
.ire German agents.
''They show that the Bolshevik Revolution was arranged for
l)y the German Great General Staff", and financed by the German
Imperial Bank and other German financial institutions." How-
ever, it is perplexing to find that these so-called German bankers
who dominated the Government and its officials were oftentimes
Jewish international bankers. Germany was their residence, but
the world was their home.
Supplementing all tliese documents, which I have used in
[811
refuting the charge of Mr. Kerensky and tfie statement issued by
the Kuhn, Loeb banking firm of last week to the effect, in the
first instance, that his revolution was financed not through any
bankers, Jewish or gentile, in America, but through the United
States Government; and, in the second instance, that "the firm
of Kuhn, Loeb and Company had no financial relations, or any
other relations, with any government in Russia,'' may I produce
the evidence of another governmental document as a refutation
It IS a document pubhshed by the United States Department of
State in a now rare volume entitled: "Papers relating to the
Foreign Relations of the United States— 191 7-^SuppIement 2—
The World War— A^olume 1, page 25.
"File No. /63.72119/563a.
"The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Russia
(Francis).
(Telegram)
Washington, April 16, 1917.
"1321. Please deHver following telegram: (I am quoting
only the last two sentences) ... We are confident Russian
Jewry are ready for the greatest sacrifices in support of the
present democratic government as the only hope for the fu-
ture of Russia and all its people. American Jewry holds itself
ready to cooperate with their Russian brethren in this great
movement. Marshall, Morgenthau, Schiff, Strauss, Rosen-
wald, '
"Addressee: Miliukov, Petrograd (or Baron Gunzburg).
If sent to Baron Gunzburg, add : May we ask you to submit
this to your government. Signed : Lansing.''
Comment upon this startling document is almost unnecessary
Two names of the Kuhn, Loeb firm— Schifif and Strauss—are
mentioned m this telegram by the United States Secretary of
State, Robert Lansing.
But of more importance — of astounding interest— my friends
you learn from this communication that Woodrow Wilson's Sec-
r^ary of State, Robert Lansing, was in this instance and in his
official capacity, the Secretary of the Jewish international bank-
ers m helping to plot revolution with its subsequent mass murder
and practised atheism.
May I pause to repeat what the whole worid knows— that
these German financial institutions referred to in the Sisson
182]
Ivcport were dominated by international-minded Jews— war-mon-
i-ers — who, more than any other classification of citizens in all the
world, were responsible for the holocaust of 1914-1918. One could
add that they not only dominated the Imperial Government of
( iermany, but, it appears, they had tremendous influence in our
own government.
Page after page of the Overman Report, in which the Sisson
keport is incorporated as a government document, displays this
incontrovertible fact.
Alas, my friends, history will not only attribute the financing
of the Bolshevik Revolution to this type of internationalist. His-
iciry will become more eloquent day by day in proclaiming to
posterity the part they played in manipulating the press and
propaganda, in controlling public opinion, in bestirring racial and
national animosities, and in unleashing the four horsemen of the
Apocalypse to run roughshod with their devastation over the face
(if civilization.
Once before we fell victims to their greed for power and lust
for wealth.
An awakened civilization, throbbing to the experiences of the
jjast twenty years, must not let history repeat itself !
In passing from this point of discussion ; and in face of a
plenitude of evidence submitted by eminent Jews that 65 to 7S
per cent of the oflicials of Soviet Rtissia are Jews who form only
.1 per cent of the population, what, then, is the purpose or where
[S the substantiation for John W. Stanton's article which is sched-
uled to appear in today's issue of the Detroit News — an article
which says :
"To say that the Russian revolution owes its origins to the
activities of any group or foreign interests is to show only a
superficial understanding of the facts underlying the forces
that led to the downfall of the Romanovs and the advent of
the Bolsheviks to power. ..."
What is the purpose for making such an incorrect assertion
in face of these government documents to which I have referred?
Thanks be to God that the majority of Jews— poor, humble
persons like the majority of Christians^ — played no part in this.
They, as were we, were the pawns upon the checkerboard of death
and persecution. These I invite to stand with us in our battle
against Communism and Naziism.
My friends, by inviting the religious Jews and religious gen-
183 1
tiles to join hands in assailing Naziism and Communism, together
with the injustices which produced the latter, I shall be castigated
as one who stirreth up the multitudes.
Most probably I shall be scourged at the pillar in the hall of
some modern Pontius Pilate.
What of it ?
I shall continue my crusade, with God's help, for the humble
Jew who has been the victim of persecution down the ages, and
for the humble Christian whose wails have remained inarticulate
— cost what it may.
In_my effort to arouse the decent elements of America to
campaign against Communism as well as Naziism; in my effort
to appeal to the JcAvish gentlemen who have risen to such promi-
nence m the fields of radio, press and cinema — the instruments
which mold our public mind— I am characterized as being an
anti-Semite—an anti-Semite because I decry atheistic Tews whom
Jewry officially and consistently has not repudiated.
I am criticized for being so bold as to refer to the merchan-
disers of murder by name— the men who finance revolution and
war.
And lastly, I am held up to public ridicule as an untrustworthy
purveyor of falsehood although I have supplemented my asser-
tions with documentary evidence which is difficult to disregard.
So be it !
May I reiterate what I emphasized last Sunday: There is no
anti-Semitic question in America. There is an anti-Communist
question here,' and there wiU continue to be an anti-Communist
question, veil it how you will, until we conquer or until it con-
quers us.
From it there is no decent retreat on the part of decent Chris-
tians and decent Americans.
respectable silence on the part of
rc-
Towards it there is no
spectable, organized Jews.
Thus, once more I Incorporate in the record of this dav's
speech a story told in 'The New York Times" in reporting the
meetmg of the American Jewish Congress held in New York last
October. Speaking of this group representing the Jews of the
United States of America particularly, "The New York Times"
of October 31st in its story of the opening session of the American
Jewish Congress said : ■
[84]
!
''The mention of Communism threw the convention into
;in uproar when delegates and visitors attempted to shout
down Abraham Levin, a St. Louis, Mo., delegate, who de-
manded that a proposed declaration of the convention's prin-
ciple be amended to include a denunciation of Communistic
iheones. After heated discussion Mr. Levin withdrew his
<lemand."
This silence towards Communism ; this refusal to condemn it
nilicially on the part of this representative body of Jews is beyond
t >v])lanation.
A reconvention of the American Jewish Congress is in order..
A reconsideration of Mr. Levin's motion is also in order.
0£hcial Jewry must condemn officially not only the theory but
I Ik; practices of Communism — Communism whose policies have
^ I imsoned the once blue rivers of Europe with the blood of
,!(),400,000 martyrs and which is making charnehhouses of the
i.ilhedrals of Spain.
Decent Jews — American Jews—must repudiate atheistic Jews,
.ind international Jews. By so doing they are hurling a challenge
Ml the face of members of their own race who have disgraced
llicir race — the Trotskys, the Zinovieffs, the Lunacharskys — men
wliose avowed purpose in life is to tear God from Llis heaven and
tear patriotism from the hearts of nationalities.
To the highly intelligent Jews of America who recognize these
iniths, particularly, do I appeal I humbly admit your influence
Ml banking, press and radio. And I humbly suggest, for your own
-ikes and the sakes of the less informed members of your race,
I hat you, too, will recognize that there is no anti-Semitic question
Ml America but that there is an anti-Communist question which
must be solved—a question which cannot be solved except your
iM'uius and your assets are thrown into the battle on the side of
i lod and country.
In conclusion, I plead for impartiality in governmental deci-
'.iims — an impartiality which will not only strike with all its might
..[^ainst the injustices of Naziism in regard to the Jew, but with
i-i|ual strength will utlHze its majesty in behalf of the persecuted
I liristians abroad- — victims of Communism.
Before me I have an original document which Mr. Ivoosevelt
mused to be sent to a group of refugee Ukrainians resident in
our nation — Ukrainians whose homes were confiscated, whose
l.inds and businesses and chattels were seized and whose relatives
lu- rotting in the soil either of Hungary or of the Ukraine. These
[85]
i
men and women and Httle children were the victims of Bela Kun'
—whose correct name is Aron Cohn™the atheist Tew, whose
Lommunist followers wrote their crimson page of disaster a few
years ago— m this enlightened age— in this "20th Century civil-
ization so referred to by our President.
This original, official document which Mr. Roosevelt the
President of the United States, caused to be sent to the chairman
o± these petitioners, reads as follows:
is^u-^^^rV '^^^ ^^^^^?t is acknowledged, by reference from the
White Mouse, of your telegram of December 14, 1934 ad-
dressed to the President, urging that he intercede with the
boviet Government 'on behalf of Ukrainians in Soviet
Ukraine who are being executed without trial during the new
reign of terror instituted by the Moscow Government ' The
receipt is also acknowledged of a similar telegram addressed
to this Department.
_ "In reply, you are informed that this Government is not
m_ a position to make representations to foreign governments
with respect to conditions which do not directly affect Ameri-
can citizens or interests.
"Very truly yours,
"For the Secretary of State: Robert R Kelley, Chief,
"Division of Eastern European AiTairs."
God forgive us ! No intervention for Ukrainians and Hun-
garians, victmis of Aron Cohn whose bodies now fertilise the
golden wheat fields of mid-Europe. But a plenitude of interven-
tion and publicity for the Jews, not one of whom has been offi-
cially murdered.
^ May the Holy Trinity infuse into the minds of our rulers a
spirit of justice, of fairness both to Christian and Tew and if
necessary, a spirit of militancy against the Communists both at
home and abroad whom, up to this present moment, this ^ovem^
ment has been protecting, aiding, and abetting both by its silence
Its cooperation and, its criminal "good neighborliness '"
INTRODUCTION
[86 J
By way of introduction and before I deliver the address pre-
|Mi-ed for this afternoon, I have this following announcement to
iii;ike:
Following last Sunday's discourse a local newspaper said: "It
r. obvious that Father Coughlin either does not know what the
wi.rd 'interview' means, or is giving still further evidence of his
■ oiigenital inability to tell the truth."
These printed remarks were occasioned by a statement which
I incorporated in last Sunday's address relative to tlie alleged
Ih^nry Ford-Rabbi Franklin interview — an interview which was
l.iinted locally in Detroit.
I was not present at this interview. It was reported to me in
1 statement signed by Mr. Harry Bennett of the Ford Motor
1 orporation and which I read last Sunday and which will be
.(•produced over Mr. Bennett's signature in SOCIAL JUSTICE
magazine next week.
Because news reports printed last Monday tended to discredit
iIh' statement, I secured a second signed statement from Mr.
Harry H. Bennett of the Ford Motor Corporation last Monday
.1 f I ernoon. It reads as follows ;
"Dearborn, Mickigan,
Dec. 5th, 1938
"A statement which resulted in casting reflection of an
exceedingly serious nature upon the veracity of Father
Coughlin, appeared in the Detroit Free Press, Monday, De-
cember 5th, 1938, based upon a statement which it was al-
leged I made. It labeled statements of Father Coughhn
regarding Rabbi Franklin's recent visit to the Ford offices,
for the purpose of getting an expression of the Jewish situa-
tion in Germany as untrue. This is to definitely state that
absolutely no interview was given in response to Rabbi
Franklin's request by Mr. Ford to be printed as Mr. Ford's
own statement in the press, but merely agreed with certain
written expressions, and the statement given by Father
187]
Coughlin on December 4th, 1938, was an absolutely correct
verbatim report of a statement haying my own approval and
signature. ^^
(Signed) Harry H. Bennett.
Dec. 5, 1938."
I make this annoLmcement to set at ease the minds of this
radio audience and to let it be known that in preparing my broad-
easts, 1 rest my assertions upon documentary evidence.
r.. KV T""!!"^ ^^ newspapers and news services saw fit not to '
publish the photostatic copies of the two original signed state- 1
iiients which 1 handed to them last Monday afternoon following
rSOCTAf ^n'^TTrr "^ Corporation. I shall have them prmted '
m SOCIAL JUSTICE magazine next week in order to com^
piete the record.
It is my hope that this announcement concludes
-as far as I am concerned.
a local issiir
4^
[88
A Chapter on Intolerance
Sunday, December 11, 1938
Ladies and gentlemen, last week a representative of the Jewish
( nmmunity Council of Detroit sought to obtain adequate radio
I.Lcilities to be used in broadcasting an official Jewish answer to
my three previous addresses.
Recognizing that this gentleman was confronted with many
niochanical difliculties in obtaining a clearance of a full hour over
.1 large group of radio stations, and itpon such short notice, I
M.nveyed to him through Mr. Leo Fitzpatrick an invitation for
Ihc General Jewish Council, a national body to w^hich the local
b'wish Council is affiliated— an invitation to use the facilities of
my network on this hour and at my expense.
The General Jewish Council has declined the invitation.
However, over most of these stations and at its own expense,
ilic General Jewish Council will address this audience some time
I,i1er today.
Their spokesman, how^ever, will not be a Jewish gentleman.
lie will be the Catholic attorney, Mr. Frank Hogan, of Wash-
ington, D. C.
I wish to impress upon this audience that ilr. Hogan is speak-
ing for the General Jewish Council to which is affiliated all the
local Jewish Community Councils of America, I take this oppor-
I unity to invite my audience to listen attentively to this Catholic
■pokesman as he pleads the case— shall I say of the Jews, or shall
1 say of the General Jewish Council r.nd the local Jewish Com-
munity Council.
This attorney's address, about to be delivered under the aus-
pices of the General Jewish Council, will be better appreciated
u.llowing the discourse which I am about to deliver because I
will deal pertinently with certain activities, constitutional activi-
ties, of the Jewish "^Comniunity Councils which are related to the
( reneral Jewish Council.
[891
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*ny. It .«a «u, ,K,t to th« Geri^ Co^.r-mceat^ i^t to the ,.r m<,tieer., Lh.
international b&aker$»
H..reov«r, «hll6 ta- Pord expressed hi. bi.i««ill*rl*ir'.« fc.r Ul
people, .^..t ht beUev^d that Je« xouldn-l b« <;,,„t..t tP -^« ^ tha
fbCtorI«s,
.That w«3 tto essencQ of ths talK betw^.n KU- Pord ana Pabbi
Fr^nUin. ^B.t tl;, stor^ handed to the ?^« J^ress .„ „itt.. by Fra^m
»nd hlmded to U bj- Franldin an<flnot iy Ur Ford.
^J^>^
_^^
Doarbcm Kich
^c* Sth, 19M.
A statemsnl which resulted in cfistlng refloetlon of aa ex«eflljiftly
■erlous natuM upoB tt» veracity cf Fatter Cou^lU, appeared U the TJotrolt
rroc Pwea, Ifeadi?, Dcoabsr Sth, 19SS, tewd apon » et4tcir.c3tt slilcb It waa
■ Ueeed I ^ae* It LabeJ.ed »t«tGaent» of Father CoufhllA ragarfliftg Rabbi
rrajitlln»f recent vl»lt to the Jord office*, for tbe purpoae of getting aa
(.ipreaBlOD Of tUa T«wl*b Bitwtlon in QorBany as uBtnie. Thli li to deflalta-
Vy state th&t abaolutoly ao taterrlew waa giTon In renpoaee to Rabbi Froniaio'
request by Mr Ford to be printed an Mr rdrd's P»n atate^nt la tha p^e«a^ but
■Arely apreed with certain wrlttM arproaalons, end t^e jtateomt glTen by
fottfir Coughlia on Dacember 4tli, 19Se, was en abaolutaly corract vepbatla
roport of a statement having ay own appi^val eisd HlgBaturB*
[93
My friends, it is appropriate for me to re-express the thousrhts
which were woven m bold colors throughout the last three di
courses. They are these: I hold no animosity towards the Tews 1
I distinguish most carefully between good Jews and bad Teis as
well as I do between the good gentiles tnd bad gentiles. '
Tew^, V^thl!^ A^"'^^'^''''"'7'\^ '^^ '"'"'°'^= °f '^"Mble, religious
Jews both n America and elsewhere who have been persecuted
by_ a thoughtless world-a world which does not a W dS n
Sstfleoifb^r' J^- -d the.bad Jews; a\3 Sc"h
detLt?o7t;;;yit/fe™°" ^'^ '"'"°'^^"' J^"^ ^°'- ''^^ '"-
Openly and fearlessly do I admit that my main contention is
r.pr,+;i^ . t, tI I ^ s^-iiLiic, Liie .communistic ew arn
g.ent7le who have been responsible and will continue to be respon- 1
r:Li - ~ --~™ --^^^ii^iuit. aiiu wiu conimue to De resDon- t
.ble,m great part, both for the discriminations and the persecu-
tions mflicted upon the Jews as a body. persecu^ 1
S. fnTTn tT^±5 iL^"!!"^,^ what has, happene^d else- |
where, and to end once and for all the hostility of German
Naznsm towards Jews, I asked my fellow citizens not onirto
oppose Naziism, an effect of Communism, butto fight ma^Mv
against Communism itself. ^ nuniuiiy
science^i^rXi?^'"'"'^ *° h^'"" '^/PP'^ *^ ^^''^ P^'^'^iple of
science m their common effort to destroy persecution— the basic
pnncipe which teaches us that, m order to remove effects oer
manently, the causes which produce them must^e removed fi^rst..
a pr^Meifof'^'nti '^'i^^ V ''^ ^°'^ ^'^ ""^ ^'""'^^ *^' "^"^ '^ "ot
a problem of anti-Semitism ; ours is a problem of anti-Commun-
to S^MBe^'Ztr^'^'- ^^' J'^'= °^ ^^''■^ '^-"-°t afford
They are a fed T H '^°'"^r''^™ ""^ f^^^ communistic activities.
J.ney are asked to disassociate themselves from the atheistic Tews
who espouse Communism. duieiscic jews
for^h'is 20'mi]I^n"f^l7^ Amencan Christian whose heart bleeds
tor hs /0-milhon fellow Christians who were butchered bv the
Trotskys and the Bela Kuns, the Bronsteins and the Cohns in
IZ ^'^'^L^'-"^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^' ^^ Hungary and els where-the e
Amencan Christians appeal to the Jews of America to [oin with
194]
them in removing Communism, the cause of Naziism. They
appeal particularly to the eminent sons of Jewry who have risen
so high in government, in journalism, in banking, in broadcasting
;ind in motion pictures, to launch an effective, determined cam-
paign against the Red menace which has baptized the hillsides and
valleys of Europe with the blood of 20-milUon Christian martyrs.
The best answer that Jewry can give me or America is not a
])assionate denial that Jews, far beyond their proportion of popu-
lation, are not interested in furthering Communism. ^ Official
action will speak more eloquently than ten thousand denials.
In asking the gentiles of America to oppose the gentiles of
the Nazi party in Germany, Jews are not seeking anything that
is unreasonable.
On the other hand, when the gentiles of America ask the Jews
n> this country to oppose the Jews in Russia, in Spain and else-
.v'here, who are supporting Communism to our detriment and to
Ihe detriment of the Christians living abroad, we are asking noth-
ing unreasonable.
There comes a time in the life of every individual as well as
in the life of every nation when righteousness and justice must
lake precedence over the bonds of race and blood.
Tolerance, then, becomes a heinous vice when it tolerates the
theology of atheism, the patriotism of internationalism and the
justice of religious persecution. No matter, then, what ties of
blood and common parentage bind the God-fearing Jews in New
"fork with the atheistic Jews in Moscow, those ties must be severed
for God, for country and for the preservation of the teeming
masses of Jews in America who have been victimized by the silence
cti their leaders and the propaganda of the press.
Everyone recognizes that Soviet Russia has made anti-Semit-
ism a crime.
The entire world recognizes that Soviet Russia has made pro-
Christianity, pro-theism and pro-religion likewise crimes.
Everyone recognizes the predominance of atheistic Jews _ in
the pattern of Russian Communism. Evidence is so overwhelming
to substantiate this statement that it is idle for any informed per-
son to attempt disputing it.
On this point let me quote for you from an article by James
!^:. Abbe which appeared in "The New Outlook" in February, 1934.
It says :
"Comrade Smirdovitch ("Red Pope"). Smirdovitch an atheist,
195]
IS the official restrazner and regulator of religion in the U S S R
He IS a member of the important Central Executive Committee'
As the official Anti-Chnst of the Soviet Republics, he decides how
far the remaining priests of the church may go toward oreachin^
the word of God. Kindly, cultured, edncated,^ole.:nt in"^ ™er^
Smirdovitch says religion will die out when divorced from supS
stitious ritual, pomp, and fear. His job is to help kill it.
nf Z!™ °^ ^'^ Red Army sing as they march . . . Over a million
res r^ ^1^^'^'"' '™k "' ^"^'^ ^"'^^y' ^"^ millions are i,^
reserve. More millions are being born than starve. He or those
who control the Red Army control Russia. A force to b; reckoned
n„/'4"'*|".'^".*ho control Russia are not Russians. They are
not Slavs.^ Stalin zs a Georgian, a different race. Kafranovitch is a
IZroulnr^Y J™\K.-akhan, Armenian. Smirdovrt h wh^
^Ln Kurt, ifl :?'' r-l'f 'on, IS a Jew. Ordjonikid.e is a Geor-
gian. Kurtz IS Austrian. Karl Radek, a Jew. Men in business for
^ulT ^T'^'^S^' Positions^buyers and traders-are rlrely eve
Russian. Members of the Jewish race from all over the world pre
IS a ewfitH?' '"''''^%°' '^^ f?-ig- ofRc. press censor bur'^au
^^d7^:,^:^:i^;:^%^? -^ -^Ponslble positions.
tHeS!mLrSrl^SlrHut??l:to^^
an official government document which I have before me .^d
a picture of which will be reproduced m SOCIAL TI^TTrV
magazine we learn of the close relationship exttinrbeleen
f^'te&UMr^r'r '" Hungary,'under tlfe attisd^
L .,t-'^., ™ (^^°" Cohn) apostate Jews dominated Commun
r period of uTr^'^ff ^-'^ tta„-'20^thonsand CMstfarrn
a penod of 130 days of horror. Out of 11 department heads in
the Hungarian Communist Cabinet 9 were Tews ■ n t nf ^nV . ,
members tl.ere were 20 Jews; and the DepartS; of he toe °^f
Finance, Education, Foreign Relations, War Food and SuonI p '
were one hundred per cent manned by Jews ^"PpLes,
I refer to these records for one purpose only for it is mv
desire as a non-Jew to tell you, my fellow Jewfsh dtizens ^hl
ruth; to inform you what thoughts millions of prrsons are eit r
deried"5rPle'^^^.^='^^^'-'^^'.J--^ "^ -"^^^* nLbers' £ve' bee„
l^Tht^ran^d^hrSan'prrit.™^^™^' ^^'^^ C°™^-
96 1
L
But which one of you will uphold the activities of these men
-these Lunacharskys and Bela Kuns and Trotskys?
None of you religious Jews who love your God.
None of you intellig-ent Jews whose minds are too well de-
\ doped to be captivated by the false philosophy of tolerance —
lulcrance towards atheism, tolerance towards mass murder, toler-
;irice towards the progenitor of Naziism.
The hour has struck when neither Jew nor gentile in America
run afford to be associated with Communism even throug^h the
medium of silence. I am giving voice to a sentiment which is ex-
pressed in millions of homes and in thousands of gatherings. Thus,
lur his collective safety, the American Jew mi:st repudiate the
.ilheistic Jew. Communism must be stamped out, else an illogical
w orld will build up a defense mechanism against it in these United
States paralleling, if not surpassing, the same illogical defense
iiieclianism which operates under Naziism.
Ladies and gendemen, there are millions of innocent Americans
who do not grasp the essential meaning of Communism. They are
inclined to believe that only he is a Communist who carries in his
pocket a card proving that he has paid his dues to some Commun-
ist organization.
A card does not make a man a Communist any more than a
baptismal certificate makes a man a saint.
The thoughts which a man entertains ; the policies which he
pursues — these are the internal causes which generate Communists.
And these causes are reduced in their final crystallization to the
ctne word "atheism" and all it implies. ■ ^
Show me a man who disbelieves in God and, particularly, who
npposes the dissemination of knowledge concerning God, and I
will show you an embryonic Communist — one who, if he is logical,
will soon stand beside Lunacharsky and Smirdovitch and their
cohorts, determined to rid this world of all religion and supplant it
with the doctrines of tlie Soviet.
Show me a man whose policies completely ostracize God from
i>ur public institutions, and I will show you a person who, indirect-
Iv, is working hand in glove with the Bela Kuns, the Trotskys, the
Stalins and the Lenins.
Any policy which pursues the course of secularizing our homes,
our government, our public institutions, is a policy which logically
leads to the adoption of the principles of Communism with its
resultant mass murder and economic chaos.
[97]
On this point, my friends, do not be confused.
Towards this godlessness which is imposed upon us through
the so-called secularization of our public institutions, entertain no
tolerance— any more than you would be tolerant towards a rattle-
snake; for it is an insidious serpent which sooner or later will
sting you to death if you caress it against your bosom.
Having clarified that point — a point which is not disputed by
any Christian or by any religious, God-fearing Jew — permit me
to speak of its application in America; permit me to refer to the
General Jewish Council and the local Jewish Community Councils.
^At the outset, I graciously admit the contributions towards re-
ligion and culture accredited to Jews. I am not ignorant of the
poems of David. I am no stranger to the saga lived by Moses and
his contemporaries. Many precious hours have I spent in the com-
panionship of the prophets of Israel.
However, when the house of our civilization is wrapped in the
lurid flames of destruction, this is not the time for idle eulogizing.
When the house is on fire its tenants are not apt to gather in the
drawing-room to be thrilled by its paintings, enraptured by its
sculpture, its poetry, its tomes of music or its encyclopedia of
science which are there on exhibit.
AVhen the house is on fire, as is the house of our civilization
today, we dispense with gratifying our vanities and call in the
fire department to save our possessions lest they be lost in the
general conflagration.
All about us the angry flames of Communism, of godlessness
are devouring not only the contributions which Jewry has made to
our generation, but also the benedictions which our gentile an-
cestors have contributed towards our well-being. Behold, Russia
is a shambles. China is a battlefield. France is a social chaos. Spain
IS a slaughterhouse. Mexico is spiritual volcano and even our own
United States is beclouded with a crimson smoke which chokes
our progress.
We are concerned, then, with extinguishing this fire before it
consumes our inheritance and before its flames of hatred enfold
themselves around the millions of innocent Jews and gentiles in a
holocaust of persecution.
American Jewry is also concerned with the welfare of the
3-million_Jews resident in Ru5sia~3-miIlion who, according to
every valid report, now occupy many major places of prominence
(98]
m the Soviet government far beyond the proportion of their pop-
(il;ition.
Well may American Jewry be concerned; for soon the pendu-
h,m of time will swing; soon the 160-million Russians whose par-
ens and relatives were massacred by the Trotskys and Lenms and
r.cla Kuns— soon they will break the shackles which bind them to
l.overty, to exploitation and to slavery.
What new chapter, then, will history write? God only knows!
But this is certain: Russian Jewry will not be dealing with
: Christian people because the leaders of Communism have robbed
l!ie Russian Christians of the doctrine of chanty -^ Christ s
.joctrine The Lunacharskys, the Utvinoffs and the Commissars
of the Kremlin have outlawed the Sermon on the Mount and pil-
loried to death the doctrine of brotherhood.
Today Stalin stands with his back against the wall, confronted
Uv 160-million de^Christianized Russians who have been subjected
lo the preachments of hate, the gospel of blood and the policy of
revenge.
That is unfortunate !
But blame not the forthcoming uprising in Russia upon Chris-
lians whose churches have been closed and whose religion has been
outlawed.
Youn£^ Russia, new Russia, will be a barbaric Russia. The up-
rising of these gentile barbarians— formed and fashioned as such
by Smirdovitch and Lunacharsky, the haters of God and of man
—that uprising against tiiese Jewish masters will be disastrous to
ihe 3-milhon Jews-^your co-nationals, my American Jews.
I ask you, is it too late to come to their rescue?
Is it too late to cease sending our congratulations to the mur-
derers of Christians and destroyers of religion? Is it not oppor-
lune for you and for us, for Jew and for Christian, to demand of
liieni a cessation of their persecution, of their godlessness, and save
Ihe lives of this 3-minion minority?
This afternoon the General Jewish Council, which is the central
Ijody of the Jewish Community Councils, is about to answer my
so-called anti-Semitism which, in reality, is anti-Commumsm. lliis
General Jewish Council, which is composed of the Anierican Jew-
ish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, the B nai B nth
and the Jewish Labor Committee and, therefore, to which all the
[99 1
w
local Jewish Community Councils are related, has chosen for its
spokesman a distinguished gentleman of my own faith, a most ,
promment attorney in whose veins there courses the same Irish '
blood which flows in mine.
. Nevertheless, he is the engaged spokesman of the General Tew- :
It hT' i ^V ^'''^ *^" ^ ^^'^^^^^ ^^'^'^ ^^^^^ks but rather to '
ine Client whom he represents.
Because I love my fellow Christians both abroad and at home;
nTh^^Jl T- '"1 f""^ Americans, be they Jew or gentile, I wil I
mv vnirf '? ^^' ^^f ^^,^^ ^^Pending disaster, nor will I still
my voice m^pleadmg for the ehmination of all persecution be it '
that of i\aznsm, or of Communism whence it sprang, or of the '
economic mjustices which, in turn, advanced the Lenins, die
Trotskys and their atheistic breed to the pinnacles of power.
^.rJ/r\^ ^"t^T^J "^ ^^^""^ ^ '™^^^ ^^ ^^I^"t- Were I anti-
bemitic I would bandage my eyes, refusing to view the realities of
I ue, and lethappen what will happen in America and Russia and
elsewhere without protest.
T '^^^^^^/'''I'l'''!?^ ^' "^>' text-book, the "B'nai B'rith National
Jewish Monthly Magazine" for June. 1938-a Cincinnati publica
W^ ^'"'^ prepare this _audicnce for its reception of the General
Jew sh Council to which is affiliated the Jewish Community Coun-
cils throughout America. ^ v x
Prnf.°t ^\^ ^f ^,^?™tion of all Christian Americans-Catholic and
l^rotestant—let it be known on the authority of the "B'nai BVith
National Monthly Magadne" that Jewish Community Councils are
generally composed of representatives of all the Jewish or^ni^a-
tions of the city m which they are fonned. The size of the Jewish
.^^^''Tl^''''''^'^ ''^''^' ^^^ ^y^^ ""' community in which they
T'l ffJ^'y ^'^ comprised of from 7 to 165 Jewish organiza-
tions m some cities with as many as 250 representatives.
In the few short years of their existence, these Councils have
many accomplishments to their credit. They have brought to™
gether Jewish groups for joint action - Jewish groups which
never before have met on a common footing.
They have attracted into the orbit of active Jewish community
trom the center of Jewish group affairs.
The authenticity of these statements is vouched for, I repeat,
[ 100]
.11 the June, 193S edition of the "B'nai B'rith National Jewish
Monthly."
This magazine informs us that in Cincinnati, for example, the
local CommunHy Council has representatives from 13 synagogues
ind temples; 11 Zionist and pro-Palestine groups; 6 local welfare
.K-encies; 4 national hospital groups; representatives from the
American Jewish Committee, the J, D. C, the B'nai E nth the
i:ouncil of Jewish Women and its junior division, Friends of the
Hebrew University, Jewish National Workers Alhance and 11
other organizations.
Over all the Jewish Councils in America there dommates the
General Jewish Council— an organization, therefore, which, more
tlian any other Jewish organization, speaks authoritatively for the
Jews.
In publishing the report of achievements accomplished by^the
lewish Community Councils, we read on page 365 of the "B'nai
trrith National Jewish Monthly" for June, 1938, the following
:istounding admission:
"In Bridgeport and Cleveland, the Councils persuaded
public school officials to stop Easter and Christmas practices
which had been embarrassing to the Jewish children and had
found serious objections among Jewish parents who had
hesitated to deal with the matter individually/'
In referring to this remarkable quotation, the words I wish
U, emphasize are these: "Christmas and Easter practices." By
"practices" I understand neither the teaching of religion, the read-
ing and the interpretation of the Bible, nor the common recitation
of prayers.
These words— ''Christmas and Easter practices"— connote for
ine in this connection the celebration of these two great holidays
—the interchanging of gifts, the singing of Christmas carols, the
innocent pageantry associated with the crib and the empty tomb.
And in stibmitting this quotation, I do not wish to infer that
liie Jewish Community Councils are totally responsible for elimi-
nating Christ or religion from our schools. I am glad to admit that
I his organization is within its constitutional rights. More than that,
[ admit that this action cannot, by any stretch of the imagination,
be construed as intolerant.
I am not so illogical as to charge that the Jews alone have
been responsible for banishing religion from our educational in-
stitutions: Many influences and policies, originating from non-
I 101 ]
I am not so illogical as to charge that organized Jewry in
kv witSn".^°^P°'n'' "i '^' preachments and practices of Christian.
hom^s ° °"'' '^'^"'■'^he^ or «nder the rooftrees of our
tn.tMnInLr f T'^' '"°"^'' *° comprehend and appreciate the
nithfulness of Lenin's statement: "Give me a child for three
years and I will hand you back a Communist." And I am Chris-
l7S:'t *° ''Ir' *"' '^ ^""^ ^^''" ^'=«'^^" expatriated from our
eraduat'i.^ ^IT '"^''*"t^°^^ ^'" b^S'" to contribute towards
graduating a godless generation.
In fairness both to the Jews and to my audience, let me repeat
lordr^-F:^ -boat to make of this quotation: I am Vestric ing'th
7Zu .-'■'' ^5^d Christmas practices'^ merely to the innocent
ce ebrations m which our daildren participate immediately prTorTo
the two great holidays, Christmas and Easter.
Already the teaching of religion has been stricken from the
curncu a of nearly every public school. In many States school
authorities have seen fit to exclude even Bible reading
In this instance, I am concerned, then, with the passinP- of al-
birth. His death and resurrection - great historical events that
they were-^even greater than the discovery of America and the
signing of the Declaration of Independence"! artno onger 1 n
tioned or celebrated m festal manner by our children Fo? thS all
of us are to blame-all Christians, more than the Jews."
f.r.Jl/^-''^' ^^y ^^"^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ congratulated for succeeding in m-
nwJr ^'"'"'^ ~~ "^'"'"^ "^'" '^'^ ^"-'^^^'^
^.rh^nf.' p'^'^'-^^^^'^'^S that godlessness is the poisoned spring
whence Communism ongmates; remembering that this United
States was_ founded by Christians, pioneered by Christians and
tltFw' " ^''^'r^-'' ^y Christians\vith no mo^re tC Cimo^
Jews claiming residence amongst our 130-miIlion population why
do the local Jewish Community Councils cooperat^vith oth^rlin
lo 'S/'^'"' ^fT' '''''' constitutional pohcieroropTos^^^^^^^
nni;r?fT 1 M"^ ^'''^^' Practices ?" Why do they propagate ha
S.e7hi.?^^ li^^' ^^'u7 "-^ " ^"^^ '^^' ^^ ^^ ^-heir side^? Why do
1% T .f ^^'^'' pubhcations that they have sown seeds-uC
shall I call tliem— seeds of godlessness ?
Were my advice of any value, I should counsel the Jews to
[ 102]
icfrain from joining with others in adopting a program — even
ihough constitutional — which breeds resentment to their race.
I find no fault with the Jewish Councils for following out their
.(institutional rights; they are to be praised for that. Perchance, I
lind fault with them for their injudiciousness in attempting to live
according to the letter of the law— the letter that killeth.
Their action, therefore, lends itself to serious misinterpretation.
It excites the spirit of intolerance amongst many citizens who re-
■.<:nt any assault against the story of Bethlehem and the tragedy of
( "alvary even though it be constitutional, particularly if it comes
I rom those who do not profess Christianity.
Intolerance towards men is always reprehensible. But often-
fimes intolerance is provoked by injudicious and erroneous policies.
Therefore, I appeal to the General Jewish Council and to the
Idcal Councils. I ask you: "Even though you are within your con-
sJitutional rights; even though we dare not protest legally— why
hnve you closed the minds of our children to the beautiful story of
I'-ethleheni and the Messias? Was not that an act of poor judg-
ment?"
"Why have you blotted out the cycle of the Easter story
With its Pilate's hall, its crucifixion and its glorious resurrection
c»f the Victim of mob violence and hate?
"We Christians — we have no constitutional redress. We should
not even complain because you are within your rights. But, I re-
peat, it appears that you are injudicious."
Even if you Jews and gentiles in great number consider that
Ihese practices are idle dreams and poetry— why not leave us with
our dreams, our poetry^dreams and poetry that we learned at our
mother's knee; dreams and poetry which were carried here by
I blumbus in his Santa Maria; dreams and poetry which were told
by LaSalle, by Brebeuf and Lalemant to Tekakwitha and the In-
ian children; dreams and poetry which motivated the pilgrim
fathers to brave the elements of a hostile nature; dreams and
poetry which brought the Huguenots to seek refuge upon our
shores ; dreams and poetry which burned in the hearts of the Scotch
< Covenanters in the Virginias and Carolinas ; dreams and poetry
which both Catholic and Protestants regard not as dreams and
letry but as the bread of truth and the wine of life ! Oh, my fel-
.)\v citizens, it was the dreams and poetry born in the crib of
r.cthlehem and spoken from the pulpit of the Cross that made this
■ountry the land of the free and the home of the brave.
I 103 ]
i
I,
1
i
Oh, how can the General Jewish Council and the Jewish Com-
munity Councils who are about to answer me today through the!
lips of a fellow religionist, and with the voice of a fellow de-"
scendant of that same Irish, race which suffered death and perse-
cution — how can they be so unkind to us with their admitted pre-
eminence in banking, in press, in cinema and in radio, and with.
the law on their side— to protest against the innocent practices of
Christmas and Eastertide?
The banking- institutions
through the practice of usury.
can rob our Christian citizenry
A controlled press can veil the eyes of a nation against the
Christian blood which has run ankle-deep in Barcelona,
Members of your race can devise reasons to exclude a voice
from the airways which seeks to tell America the truth.
And pitiless propaganda can exhibit itself upon the silver
screens of our nation to deceive us. These things are not worthy
of protest. They are negligible. But when, constitutionally and
legally, you tell us in your official publication of instituting a suc-
cessful program— to use your own words — of "persuading the pub-
lic school officials to stop Easter and Christmas practices which
have been embarrassing to the Jewish children , . ." then, silence
on my part were criminal if I did not point out to you that you are
injuring yourselves ; that you are piercing the very heart of Amer-
ica ; yes, driving in the lance to let the last drop of blood flow from
the godless, lifeless corpse of our once glorious civilization.
My fellow Jews, please understand our Christian attitude to-
wards all this : You are a minority— a small but powerful minority.
We are a majority— an easy-going, patient majority— but a major-
ity always conscious of our latent power.
Sometimes we are a careless majority. The saintly Pope Pius
X, referring to our apathy, spoke of the heroism of Blessed Joan,
and contrasted it with the timidity of so many, particularly in our
day : "In our time more than ever before, the chief strength of the
wicked lies in the cowardice and weakness of good men ... Ail
the strength of Satan's reign is due to the easy-going weakness of
Catholics."
We are a democratic people. In our conception of democracy
Christmas and Easter were accepted as axiomatic truths by most
of those who framed our Constitution — as axiomatic as the law
of gravitation which these founders troubled not to write into
[104]
I
ilu! document which safeguards our rights and otir liberties. But
iliat was unfortunate for us.
The acceptance of these truths, I confess, is not so general
luday amongst all our Christians and citizens, tlowever, m the
In-irts of those who have ceased practising rehgion, or who regard
j[ as a non-essential for the well-being of our national ite— m
Ihcnr hearts there is a resentment towards any organized group
uliich, either directly or indirecdy, assails the ideals cherished by
I heir mothers.
My friends, Avhen I quote for you the evidence of a program
HI judiciously but constitutionally designed by a minority group
h. cooperate with those who are aiming to complete the de-Chns-
I Ionization of America, I am presenting no novel program recently
-Muceived either by the General Jewish Council or the Jewish
I (immunity Councils tliemselves. That program has been m our
midst long before the General Jewish Councils were organized.
However, I ask the religious Jews of America — and I be-
l>rve they are in the majority— Jews who, perhaps, are not aware
of this policy and program— I ask them to be kindly towards us.
Russian Communism was motivated by a man who swore he
uuuld drag God from His false heaven.
Communism over the world is identified with this godlessness,
1his extinction of Christ and of God from the lives of men.
Whether you are aware of it or not, this regrettable policy of
f^odlessness is indelibly stamped with the hallmark of world Com-
munism.
The words which I have spoken today are reaching Cleveland
and Bridgeport and practically every other city in this nation
where Christmas and Easter practices have been exchided from the
public schools through the self-admitted agency of cooperative,
ronstitutional Jewish activity. I feel that the fine, mtelhgent re-
ligious Jews of America will not persist, in this instance, m their
constitutional rights.
With no rancor or resentment am I unveiling these thoughts
loday I am simply protesting in the name of the inarticulate md-
■^ns — protesting against those Jews and gentiles who seek —
through intolerance?— to withhold from the children of this land
Ihe tender story of the Christ Child and His glorious resurrection
from the dead. Jews are not intolerant. No, I cannot believe that.
My friends — Christians and religious Jews — I am motivated
1105]
by a desire _to strike courageously at all persecution. Let us
therefore, join together kand in hand to strike at the cause of ail
persecutions, irrehgiousness, godlessness, Christlessness.
Jews of America, look back down the ages to the great tradi-
tiofis that are yours. Sounding- high from the tops of Sinai spoke
your God and my God to Moses. Down its slopes to the wanderers
m the desert came Moses with the Commandments which both of
us revere. God is your God. God is my God. Why, therefore shall
you persist m your constitutional rights when we Christians revere
w!" r^! ^^ *^ Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinitv^
desist! ^""^ P^^sist? I know you will not. I know you will
Thus, when the spirit of Christmas is about to descend upon
the entire world, I regret that I found occasion to remind this
audience that the General Jewish Council— responsible for disbar-
ring not the Christian religion, not the preaching of the Bible not
the recitation of prayers, but the last vestiges of Christmas prac-
tices from many of our schools— that the General Jewish Council
has engaged the services of a fellow Catholic to discuss my recent
challenge It was a challenge occasioned by a 400^million dollar
fine levied agamst 600-tbousand Jews—a challenge for Christians
eo^k^^'^ ^^^'"^* "^^^^ ^""^ ''*^^'" ^^^' persecutions of a minority
T. "^"Vi'-' ^l^^'^'f -*^^, occasion for Christians to remind the
Jews of their Trotskys, their Bela Kuns, their Lunacharskys and
their commissars who, smce 1917 until this present hour, have
been engaged not m levying fines against Christians but in destroy-
ing them from the face of the earth. "^^ -
.hn^TT^'f^'^} ^P^'^? ^'^ American Jew and gentile to stand
Fnr^™ - t '^''i.'^f ■'''* ""^ ^""^y ^^^"^^ b^^ ^Is« against
Commumsm from which it sprmgs^and against godlessness and
injustice—. That is all I ask, and that is all I plead for.
In conclusion, may I tell you that more than 1900 years a^o
when, at the first Advent, the wodd was looking forward to the
birth of Christ m the manger, there were Three Wise Men from
Sn^to fj;^^' determined to leave their homes and their occupa-
tions, to follow the silver shining of a star that led them over the
sands of a desert to the crib of Bethlehem.
Where are the Wise Men today !
The same silver star is shining brightly above !
[106]
The same clarion call has gone forth to you and to me as
c,nce it did to Melchior, Balthasar and Kaspar, the gentdes from
the East, who came to kneel before their brother and their God.
Is this invitation today in vain for those of us who hear it?
Shall the beckoning of the star shine in vain for those who
glimpse it?
Oh, too long have you and I both held aloof from our Master
and our Lord !
Victimized by poverty, by exploitation and by ^^^r and depres-
sion and perhaps motivated by a desire to have that which has
l"en taken'^from^s-I ask you Christians ^^o-f'lj- ^r^'ZT^
i:o Bethlehem ! Kneel before the crib o your Christ * s Chiistos^
Bring Him the gift of a heart that will love Him; of a mind that
will know Him and of a soul, a person, that will serve Him. Bring
Him back to His place of honor among the governments and na-
tions of men !
As a token of your good will, my friends search out some
htde child! God grant that you will treat that little child kindly,
charitably and justly this Christmas. Good afternoon. God bless
you.
107 1
Is Clirist tlie Messias?
Sundayj December 18, 1938
ChS Wrll^'^if'"'"'' '"" "'■" ^'''T"^ P^^P^"''-' f°^- the feast day of
Lhrist s birth, It IS appropriate that I submit for your consider^
Dissatisfaction with the present orrTpr r.^^ fhu.r. •
have gaSfced unreasonable support, In the field of educa?'on £
produced, has proven not only inefficient but destnlctive
g^xsg'jr sss,':i-s 3=;>=2
Once
more nations will either rf^-i^^^^rt +u^- u i- r ■
logically proceeduig to exterminate Him in tile personanhV nf '
individual; for it is untenable to retain side bv ^fdffl. ^"^*'r
doctrme of Christ and the social docS^ae of Anti Q ^st.' ""'
I characterize this position as untenable because Christ ih-
Messias, must be accepted as such both ia our indiSia{' ^
[ lOS]
j
t
social lives, which are so intimately intermingled that only with
j^reat difficulty can they be separated in practice.
Christmas, then, is either a feast which marks the birth of
Ihe divine Babe of Bethlehem, or it is an historic date which
chronicles the birth of a fabulous idolatry.
The Babe of Bethlehem is either the Anointed One Who dwelt
;imongst us in order to deliver us from all evil, or He is a charlatan
possessed of an egomania and the deceiver of hundreds of millions
(if men for more than nineteen hundred years.
He is either the cornerstone of civiUzatlon, or He is its
stumbling block.
He is either the Word Made Flesh, or He is a living lie.
Christ is either the Messias or He is not. If He is not, then
our religion is nothing more than an abomination of errors ; our
faith is a mirror of deceit; our hope is an idle, fleeting dream;
and our charity, which bids us to love God above all thmgs and
our neighbors as ourselves through Christ, is a fiction which
leads to "disaster. In fine, the celebration of Christmas is nothmg-
more than a perpetuation of a falsehood, and Calvary, the axis of
I3ethlehem, was jiistified, with its nails and piercing crown of
thorns .
My friends, there is no middle ground upon which Christ can
he accepted. Either He is the Deliverer, or He is the seducer
of mankind. As the Deliverer— the Messias— His person. His
leadership, His supernatural doctrines can conquer poverty, ignor-
ance, warfare, sin and death-
As the Messias, it is He and only He Who can restore pros-
perity to a decadent world and life everlasting to a buried corpse.
On the other hand, if Christ is not the Messias, born amongst
the Jews and rejected by the Jews as such, then we Christians
have been grossly deceived and should join with the non-Christians
in searching for another efficacious order or plan which can dis-
solve our sufferings; for another efficacious leader who can
deliver us from our personal, national and international miseries.
If Christ is not the Word Made Flesh— the Truth Made Flesh
then the Jewish race is absolutely correct in its contentions.
Amongst the Jews there are two chief schools of thought
relative to the Messias. Both schools maintain vigorottsly that
Christ is not the deliverer of mankind. One school, to which most
orthodox Jews belong, teaches that a personal Messias is yet to
[109 1
iiiS«i-
error similar to that entertained by Hbefal Tew. L '"V° I"
of a** il^XkS-if l?f "°if ?'"«• ">« '»«
•nd the c„»p. of . „;„,„' .r££'»«'i SSiv T'r-
3'5LS s Hr„,2' »■" "Si-ra^" its:
[110]
rhaos, those who ride in the ship o Chrstmn.ty owards he
T,ort of peace, prosperity and everlasting salvation will find little
securky If the hands ot' those who man the ship grasp idle oars
Nearer and nearer than most persons calculate are we approaching
the 'brink. .,1,1 1 - ^-f
Sooner than most persons care to admit, both the ship of
ChrltianTty together wkh its cargo of civilization and its crew,
.^rigJovfr the brink to be .crashed upon th^ rocks of ^^^^^^^^
iution or tortured by the whippmg whirlpool of distress unless
Christians recognize the immediate necessity of accepting Christ
as the Messias and His doctrines and precepts as their guide.
My friends, Christ is the Messias. As such He must be ac-
cepted for the salvation of individuals and of the world el e the
racial supremacy idea entertained by so ^f^y J^^'^^.'^f.^^^^^^
Tews to the effect that their nation is the Messias; that the^r na
tion with all its racial proclivities, objectives and determinations.,
'rst dominate the world ^ else this latter will dommate through
the sheer force of circumstances.
To eive a Scriptural reason for the faith that is in you I
plan to icall certain prophecies from the Old Testament-prg-
ecies extracted from the Scriptures written by Jews— to indicate
that Christ is the True Messias.
But before I do this, permit me to speak a few more words
on the philosophy accepted by the reformed, liberal Jews which
teaches that the Messias is not identified with an individual person
but with the entire race of Jews themselves.
Thus, I quote from FilHon's "Life of Christ/' Vol, I., page
507, from which I read the following:
''We have before us several Jewish catechisms. What do
they say about the Messias? The 'Precis Elementaire d In-
struction Religieuse et Morale pour les Jeunes F^ancais
Israelites' (Elementary Compendium of Religious and Moral
Instruction for Young French Israelites), ^?V/o^,^^^hy ^t
central consistory, says in the twelfth of_a hst of Thirteen
Articles of Faith': 'God, at the time which He has pleased
to determine and which He alone knows, will send us the
Messias announced by the prophets, who, with the assistance
of the divine power, will bring about the triumph of the be-
lief in God's unity and will cause war, vices, and all human
afflictions to disappear from the earth.' This is all that this
Jewish catechism feels called upon to say about the great
Liberator who fills the pages of the Old Testament and for
so long aroused the holy desires of all Israel.
I ml
mm
.?rd?: rLiJ^^irfudaisn." '^"'^S.f ^^1 '"' or looked ^Sr:
ChSVqt'ir^^'intll'"^ and a«,,,,,,,^ ,,,
today. It is not a oue Hnn nf riv""'' ^"'^ *^ «^tire world
It is a basic questk,n of whethen''* T'rT'' °' &°^ernment,
whetlier or not Chris? estaWkti °°* ^^"'* "' *e Messias;
world ; whether or Lot theret a M«?'™"*"''"' "'■'^''" *° ^^^^ *e
who believe that it" function in ^^="'=^'^'<^ ^^«. ^ chosen people
all nations of the earth from th. n ''°"°'"? ''^ ''^^ ^= '° l^^^^
E 112]
secondary architects and masons who are none other than the
sacred writers. Each one of them, without knowing the part he
played, laid stones designed to support the works of his successors.
En fact, notwithstanding the great diversity and large number of
builders ; notwithstanding that thousands of years were necessary
ill constructing it, the whole work is divinely harmonious.
As Pascal wrote: "Had a single man composed a book of
prophecies, that would be evidence of an infinite power. But it was
more than this. It was not one man, but a succession of men ;
they wrote a book not in one year, but over a lapse of four thou-'
aand years, one after the other predicting this same event of Beth-
lehem."
These prophecies not only supplement one another ; more than
that, they serve mutually to explain one another, now by adding
some new detail, now by developing an older statement to render
it clearer and more striking.
Consider the first of all the prophecies which relate to the
Messias.
In the shadows of Eden's Garden, sadly darkened by the fall
of our parents, we discover the utterance of the first g^lad tidings
of Christ's birth. "I will put enmities between thee and the wom-
an and thy seed and her seed ; she shall crush thy head, and thou
dhalt lie in wait for her heel." (Gen. 3 ;15.) This is the first vague
and undetermined promise regarding the birth of Christ.
The second and more specific promise that Christ would be
horn carries us to the new cradle of humanity. Following the
Hood, Noah, by divine inspiration, announces to his son named
Sem that God will be his God in a special way, for it is from
his posterity that the Redeemer will one day be born. (Gen. 9 :26.)
At the beginning of the third era of Hebrew development,
the circle of prophecy becomes more specific as we turn to those
chapters of the Bible which deal with the story of Abraham. He,
the offspring of Sem, is led from the distant Chaldea to the land
of Palestine. Explicitly the pages of the Old Testament, almost
two thousand years before the coming of Christ, foretell that
Abraham is destined to be the mighty ancestor of the Redeemer,
Then in quick succession after Abraham's death, the promise
of Christ's birth is renewed to Isaac and to Jacob : ''To thee and
to thy seed will I give all these countries, to fulfill the oath which
I swore to Abraham thy father" (Gen. 26:3) were the words
spoken to Isaac.
Shortly before his death, Jacob uttered a celebrated prophecy
[113 1
m which he announced that the Saviour of the world would be-
long to the tribe of Juda : -The sceptre shall not be taken away
trom Juda nor a ruler from his thigh until He come Who is
to be sent and He shall be the expected of nations." (Gen. 49:10.)
Some centuries later when Balaam was called upon by the
^mg of Moab to curse the Hebrews, he broke forth into the
wondrous toretelling that "a star shall rise out of Jacob, and a
sceptre shall sprmg up out of Israel." (Numbers 24:17.)
^u ^nt ^-^^^^-^ narrows down when we come to the time of Mose'?
Ihe Christ is to be the spokesman of Almighty God. He is to be
the lawmaker, the mediator and the prophet.
Years later the mother of Samuel, Anna by name, ^ave voice
to the statement that "God shall give empire to His Kin^ and
shall exalt the horn of His Christ." (I Kings 2:10.)
Then we come to the mighty King David, who tells us that
the Messias shall partake of our human nature and that He shall
be a pnest accordmg to the order of Melchisedech. (Psalms 109-
Eventually, about the ninth century before Christ, in the a^e
01 the prophets, properly so-called, the promise of the future
i^edeemer_ resounded with new vigor and clearness, Isaias sees
the virginity of His mother. (Isaias 7:14.) "Therefore, the Lord
Himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive and
bear a son and His name shall be called Emmanuel."
Malachias sees Him in the temple. "And presently the Lord
Whom you seek and the angel of the testament whom you de-
sire shall come to His temple. Behold He cometh saith the Lord
of Hosts. (Mai. 3:1)— the same Malachias who said: 'Trom the
t^glnlt^' TuTvllt '"'^ ''™' "^ "'"^ '' ^"'^ ^^"°"^
Zacharias previsions His being sold for thirty pieces: "For
toey weighed for My wages thirty pieces of silver." (Zach 11 -12 )
And again Isaias, whom we have just quoted, sees Him glorious in
His sepulchre as He vanquishes death, and describes how the reign
ot Christ will transform the earth into a new Garden of Eden In-
deed this prophet m the fifty-third chapter pictures the passion of
Christ so vividly and accurately that an ordinary reader thereof
would be apt to regard it as an historical account of Christ's suf-
ferings instead of a prophecy.
To leave nothing wanting in these prophecies, the inspired
writers reckon the year of Christ's coming. This date was well
established m the nmth chapter of the Prophet Daniel.
[114]
i
According to the eminent Bossuetj there are allusions in the
minor prophets of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt; (Osee
11 :1) to Christ coming to the temple at Jerusalem; (Aggeus 2:8)
to His priestly dignity; (Zach. 6:12) to His triumphant entry
mto the Holy City; (Zach. 9:9) and finally, to His birth in the
meanest, smallest city of Judea, named Bethlehem. (Micheas 5:2)
"And thou Bethlehem^ ephrata, art a little one among the thousands
of Juda ; Out of thee shall He come forth unto me who is to be
the ruler of Israel and His going forth is from the beginning, from
Ehe days of eternity."
What a stupendous array, my friends, of prophetical writings!
hundreds of years in their total composition; almost one thousand
years from the time of Micheas, who, like the star that led the
Wise Men in Christ's own day, was the prophetical light in the
sky of antiquity^ pointing out to men the humble little town Avhere
Christ will be cradled 1
That these prophecies were known by the leaders of the Jews
is certain. Did not the three Wise Men from the East approach
Ihe high priests and Herod?
Did not this king and his secretaries search the ancient Scrip-
lures and define accurately both the date of the Messias' birth and
Ihe town where He was born?
Most certainly, the prophecies indicated that Christ shall be
l)orn at a definite date, in a definite village, under definite circum-
stances.
My friends, the date long since has passed. Why, therefore, do
some men look for the coming of a Messias when the clock of time
has passed the appointed period by more than nineteen hundred
\'ears — when the prophecies have been fulfilled?
It is easity conceivable, therefore, why millions of so-called
reformed Jews have given up the idea of a personal Messias and
iling tenaciously to the theory that the chosen people of old are
still the chosen people of today — the Messianic people — whose
i'unction in life is to play the part of the Messias.
The doctrine of Aryanism preached by the National Socialist.
I 'arty has been subjected to the severest criticism because directly
;ind indirectly it, teaches that men of Aryan blood are superior to
:ill non- Aryans.
But the doctrine of the Messianic people which conceived the
idea that, as a people, they are the chosen of God, the deliverers
of the human race and, therefore^ the superiors of all mankind, is
rqually obnoxious.
Of old the Jews were the chosen people. To them Almighty
J 115]
''^u^u^'uTf'^ '^? protection of the doctrine of theism in a world
whicii had lapsed into polytheism, paganism and atheism.
But it is our Christian concept that the part played by the
ofXthl?. ' ''T "^' ^'^I'^'^'^'S "^ t™^ down to the shining
of Bethlehem s star was nothmg more than a preparation for the
ther'nnhl 1%' '^? '^'^'h'^'' -esarrection and the doctrines o
their noblest Son, Jesus Christ.
world of darkness. It was their mission to prepare a cradle whence
would arise the Redeemer to unite all men and all nations - not
doc r,W tf r °* "'^f^jality but by the teaching of a universal
aoctrine that was supra-national.
Cardinal Newman beautifully portrays the thought that the
was Identified with then- mission ot preparing for the coming of
says of the Sws^'' '"'^'^'' ^^""^^^^ ^^ ^--^'" ^^^^ ^^' ^^
. "They begin with the beginning of history, and the preach-
ing.s ot this august dogma begins with them. They arc its
witnesses and confessors, even to torture and death ; on it and
Its revelation are moulded their laws and government; on this
heir pohttcs, philosophy, and literature are founded; of this
truth their poetry is the voice, pouring itself out in devotional
compositions which Christianity, through all its many coun-
tries and ages, has been unable to rival; on this ahorir^ina!
truth as time goes on, prophet after prophet bases his funher
revelations, with a sustained reference to a time when accord-
ing to thesecret counsels of its Divine Object and Author it
IS to receive completion and perfection,— till at ieninh that
time comes.
, The promise of the Messias and the expectancy of His -om-
mg— these were the vitalizing influences in the fife of ancient
Jewry Then this preeminent churchman and scholar contrasts this
ancient glory and culture to the present predicament of the Tews
lie says: j^^vo.
W^l "^^.f l^v ^^^ ?^. ^^'^^'' ^^'^^^^^ '^ ^^ ^'^^'^"^^ ^-^ t^^eir first.
When that Um^ of destmed blessing came, wluch thev had .o
accurately marked out, and were so carefully waiting for—
a time which found them, in fact, more zealous for th4r Law
and for the dogma it enshrined, than thev ever had been be-
Ihn!7 ^r' Tu"^"^ ?^ ^?^ ^"^^^^ ^■'''^^"" ^^'^"^^ ^^^ them from
above they fell under the power of their enemies, and were
overthrown, tneir holy city razed to the ground, their polity
destroyed, and the remnant of their people cast off to wander
I 116],
far and away through every land except their own, as we
find them at this day; lasting on, century after century, not
absorbed in other populations, not annihilated, as likely to
last on. . . .
''What nation has so grand, so romantic, so terrible a
history? Does it not fulfill the idea of, what the nation calls
itself, a chosen people, chosen for good and evil? It must
have a meaning, if there is a God. We know what was their
witness of old time; what is their witness now?
"Why, I say, was it that, after so memorable a career,
when their sins and sulTerings were now to come to an end,
when they were looking out for a deliverance and a Deliver-
er, suddenly all was reversed for once and for all ? They were
the favoured servants of God, and yet a peculiar reproach
and liOte of infamy is affixed to their name. It was their be-
lief that His protection was unchangeable, and that their Law
would last forever ; — it was their consolation to be taught by
an uninterrupted tradition, that it could not die, except by
changing into a new self, more wonderful than it was before ;
— it was their faithful expectation that a promised King was
coming, the Messias, who would extend the sway of Israei
over all the people; — it was a condition of their covenant, that,
as a reward to Abraham, their first father, the day at length
should dawn when the gates of their narrow land should open,
and they should pour out for the conqitest and occupation of
the whole earth : — and, I repeat, when the day came, they
did go forth, and they did spread into all lands, but as hope-
less exiles, as eternal vvanderers. . . .
"That the Jewish Scriptures were in existence long before
the Christian era, and were in the sole custody of the Jews,
is undeniable; whatever then their Scriptures distinctly say
of Christianity, if not attributable to chance or to happy con-
jecture, is prophetic. It is undeniable too, that the Jews
gathered from those books, that a great Personage was to
be born of their stock, and to coiiquer the whole world and
to become the instrument of extraordinary blessings to it;
moreover, that he would make his appearance at a fixed date,
and that, the veiy date when, as it turned out, our Lord did
actually come. This is the great outline of the prediction, and
if nothing more could be said about them than this, to prove
as much as this is far from unimportant. And it is undeniable,
I say, both that the Jewish Scriptures contain thus much, and
that the Jews actuall}- understood them as containing it.
[117]
Ml
■■■■■i
omde, W in ,hS"S'„"„T',,~:, tor,'*""'
are"'.™? 'n>S°'s'°T ™E""»S «'"■' Oriaini^.
Christ and all His doctrines? security, if we accept
[118]
I
Steadfastly we must stand to preserve nationalism in prefer-
:nce to an insidious internationalism. But in preserving it we
must entertain no ideas of race superiority, nor can we tolerate
any ideas of a Messianic people to occupy the position which be-
longs to the MessiaSj Jesus Christ.
In common, both the Jews and the Christians are scattered
through.out every land and mingle with every nation on this earth.
The former have no flag and look forward either to the coming
of a personal Messias or else dream of the day when their acre-
less nation shall become the world Messias.
The latter — the Christians — ^glory in the flag of the nation
where they live and point with pride to the uplifted Cross, symbolic
of the victory of Christ over death and all things that appertain
thereto — poverty^ slavery, exploitation and persecution;
Into all lands these two have been scattered— Jew and Chris-
tian. And what shall we say of the Jews — they who rejected
Christ; they who have suffered the lash of persecution in every
century and under every Hag? Let me quote the words of Car-,
dinal Newman:
'T have said (that in ancient da3^s) they were in God's
favour under a covenant, — perhaps they did not fulfill the
conditions of it. This indeed seems to be their OAvn account
of the matter, though it is not clear what their breach of
engagement was. And that in some way they did sin, what-
ever their sin was^ is corroborated by the well-known chapter
in _ the Book of Deuteronomy, which so strikingly anticipates
the nature of their punishment. That passage, translated
into Greek as many as 350 years before the siege of Jerusalem
by Titus, has on it the marks of a wonderful prophecy; but
I am not now referring to it as stich, but merely as an indi-
cation that the disappointment, which actually overtook them
at the Christian era, was not necessarily out of keeping with
the original divine purpose . . . Their national ruin, which
came instead of aggrandizement, is described in that book,,
in spite of all promises, with an emphasis and minuteness
which prove that it was contemplated long before^ at least as
a possible issue of the fortunes of Israel. Among other in-
flictions which should befall the guilty people, it was told
them that they should fall down before their enemies, and
should be scattered throughout all the kingdoms of the earth ;
that they never sould have quiet in those nations, or have
rest for the sole of their foot ; that they were to have a fearful
heart and languishing eyes, and a soul consumed with heavi-
ness ; that they were to suffer wrong, and to be crushed at all
[119]
times, and to be astonished at the terror of their lot: tliat
their sons and daughters were to be given to another people
and they were to look and to sicken all the day, and their life
was ever to hang; in doubt before them, and fear to haunt
them day and mght; that they should be a proverb and a
by-word of all people among whom they were brought ■ and
that curses were to come on them, and to be signs and won^
ders on them and their seed for ever. Such are some por-
tions and not the most terrible, of this extended anathema -
and Its partial accomplishment at an earlier date of their
history was a warning to them, when the destined time drew
near that, however great the promises made to them mi^ht
be, those promises were dependent on the terms of the cove-
nant which stood between them and their Maker, and that
as they had turned to curses at that former time, so they mieht
turn to curses again." ^ ^
Thus, the learned, saintly Cardinal describes the affliction of
m! ^ flattered amongst aU nations-they who rejected the
Messias;_they whose glory was predicated upon the coming of
the Messias; they whose punishment was predicated upon His
rejection. ^
all t^tt^^^'n^ '^' Christians? They, too. are dwellers amongst
fjtcuZt h^ P^.7^verance, by suffering, by heroic effort and
particularly by unity, the persecuted Christians of every land
preserved intact^ the story of Bethlehem and handed it down to
this, our generation.
fr. AU ' u C^^^^^jf^ityjs the fulfillment of the promise made
to Abraham, and of the Mosaic revelations ; this is how it has
been able from the first to occupy the world and gain a hold
on every class of human society to which its preachers
reached; this is why the Roman power and the multitude of
religions which it embraced could not stand against if this
IS the secret of _ its sustamed energy, and its never-flagging
martyrdoms; this is how at present it is so mysteriously po
I? n fu '^u 1 ' u^'^ ^^^ ^'^^^^^ adversaries which beset
ts path It has with It that gift of staunching and healing
the one deep wound of human nature, which avails more for
Its success than a full encyclopedia of scientific knowledge
h.t AT 1 ^^'^ of controversy, and therefore it must
can ^-ow d™'"" "" '• ^' '' ^ ^''"'"'^ '''''^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^'
theTewr'Th^hf '■ '^' ^T^' of Deuteronomy have fallen on
Hptinl!^ The blessings and promises spoken to Abraham have
descended upon the Christians.
[ 120 ]
And why ? Because one rej ected the promised Messias ; because
the other accepted Him,
But in these days when Christians are willing to accept Christ
but unwilling to accept His principles of social and of individual
life, this is tantamount to another rejection; this is an invitation
for God to extend to us anathemas similar to those pronounced
in the Book of Deuteronomy against the Jews.
My Christian friends, our contest, then, in this frenzied world
is a contest between the supernaturalism of the divine Messias
and the naturalism identified with some human element^a human
element, be it that of race superiority or of political persuasion.
We have been waiting for the coming of the Redeemer Who
would hft from our backs the heavy, unsupportable burdens of
life ; Who would erase from our minds the worries of a cruel
death ; and Who would burn deeply within our souls the imperish-
able hope of an everlasting happiness. Our institutions have been
subjected to attack. Strange doctrines of radicalism are espoused
on all sides. Poverty amidst plenty surrounds us. Wars and
rumors of wars confront us.
We have need now more than ever for our Messias, the Second
Person of the Most Holy Trinity. He and Pie alone is our De-
liverer, No nation, no group of men, even though they were
God's chosen people in times past, can deliver us from the chains
that bind us to suffering and death.
Christ's principles must be the foundation for a new economy
of plenty.
Christ's principles must be the new cornerstone of our edu-
cation.
Christ's principles must be the new basis for our domestic
relations.
Christ's principles must be the principles upon which Christian
laws shall be written for our national and international security.
Christ is the Messias — the Deliverer. It is He Who can
sustain families without destroying them; nations without liqui-
dating them ; and civilization without disrupting it by His doctrines
which are supra-national and by His grace which is supernatural.
This, my friends, is the Advent message I leave with you as
we prepare to cross over to Bethlehem and join with the shep-
herds and angels in singing "Peace on earth to men of good will."
[ 121 ]
A Christmas Message
Sunday, December 25, 1938
n.m^^T wt^^ ^^ ^" ^^'^'^ associated with me and in my own]
name, I wish you a merry, merry Christmas.
May it be merry in the true sense of that word. The old
^nd wTn.n r7'- . ^^^^,^"^^^7^ ^hen knighthood was in flower
and when Christianity played a more active part in the social h've.
of nahons than it does today, the expression Vj^yflyZym^^^^
with joy and happiness, was borrowed from the name of the Tnde
virgm mother whose arms enfolded a precious baby to her br^^s
more than nmeteen hundred years ago today.
Because this sublime experience was identified with an in-
descnbable joy to which none other could be compared the ancie t
Every mother who g^ives birth to a baby indeed is happy In
What must have been Mary's joy when, for the first time
she looked mto the depths of her baby boy' eyes and H mpS
therein the presence of her Creator and Savior ! ^^™Pscd
What ecstasy must have been hers when His rosy lips were
pressed agamst her breast that first Christmas night? ^
Despite her poverty; despite the destitution of the wind-swept
caye.^she was conscious of one thing only-conscious tLtX^
held in her arms the Son of God Made Man. ''''''''^''' ^^^^ ^^^
becfu^se'she fHtl^' of the dumb animals stabled around her
Father God the^l!"??^'^ ^'T^' '^^- T''^^ gtiests-God the
ratner, Uod the Holy Ghost and myriads of angels.
wav^o^f'sf.^n'; ^w"? ^ -f^ ^^""l ^ "^"^^^ Christmas, it is another
way 01 say ng that I wtsh you the same oy that the virsrin mother
experienced on her f^rst Christmas. ^ wi^m motJaer
[122 1
May she be present in your home together with the royal court
which surrounded her in the impoverished cave nineteen hundred
\'ears ago !
May her Divine Son fill your lives with peace, with love and
with every benediction just as truly as He filled Bethlehem's
manger with His divine presence centuries ago !
This afternoon's presentation is divided into five short reflec-
tions. First, the description of Palestine; second, a meditation
upon the birth of Christ ; third, the reading of the authentic birth
record of the Savior; fourth, some thoughts on the mystery of
the Incarnation; and last, a timely application of Christmas and
its gift of peace to a world which is contemplating a universal
war.
Each section will be introduced by the singing of an appro-
priate Christmas carol.
Already, the Christmas bells are sounding the melody of "O
Little Town of Bethlehem." We will pause reverently, as, in
spirit, we join with the shepherds on the hills of Judea, or with
the travelers gathered about the fiaming logs in one of Bethlehem's
taverns.
I
So this is Bethlehem — Bethlehem of the Holy Land!
To most of us there never w^as extended an opportunity to
visit this hallowed place. Palestine is a ver}^ insignificant country,
if one judges it by size alone. I remember having read that Cicero
once exclaimed: "The God of the Jews must be a little God, since
He has given His people such a little country.*' It is a narrow
strip of land bounded on the south by Arabia, on the west by tb.e
Mediterranean Sea, on the east by the vast Syro-Arabian Desert,
On the north its territory ends at the deep ravine which serves as
a bed for the Leontes River.
Palestine's dimension in length is approximately only one hun-
dred and forty-two miles, according to the calculations of Enghsh
engineers. The width, for that part of country west of the Jordan,
varies from fifty-eight miles to twenty-three miles at the extreme
north.
The total area of Palestine, including the district beyond the
fordan, scarcely exceeds ten thousand square miles — smaher than
imr state of Maryland, which is one of the smallest States in the
[Jnion.
[ 123 1
I
The Holy Land forms a part of an isthmus whidi connectsj
the Taurus mountains with the massive mountain range of Sinai]
Contrary to the common opinion, severe winter cold is almost
unknown in Bethlehem. While it is true that snow and frost
make their appearance nearly every year, nevertheless the mtaii
temperature of the country is fifty-two degrees Fahrenheit in
December.
At the time of the birth of Jesus Christ, the division of the
Holy Land among the twelve tribes had long smce given way to
another administrative partition. The country was divided into
four provmces, one of them Perea, beyond the Jordan. The other
three on this side of the Jordan were named Judea at the South
Samaria m the middle, and Galilee in the north.
Of these four provinces, Judea at that time unquestionably
played the most miportant part, since, for the Jews, it was the
religious and political and, to a certain extent, the intellectual
center^of Palestuie, It was there that in the course of numerous
centuries had taken place the most significant events in Israel's
history. There it was that Jerusalem is located with its glorious
temple. There gathered the Sanhedrin.
Nevertheless, it was such a poor country that the Roman
geographer, Strabo, asserted that there was no one in the world
who would thmk of making war just to seize that territory, whose
material wealth was so insignificant.
It was likewise in Judea that Bethlehem was located, approxi-
mately six miles distant from the Holy City.
From Jerusalem, from Dan, from distant Rome and cultured
Cormth came those Jews who traced their paternity back to the
royal David. Li obedience to the edict of Caesar Augustus, they
gather at Bethlehem to enroll their names upon the census records
of the Empire.
Little do they suspect that the miracle of the ages, the dreams
of the prophets, is about to be enacted in their midst.
Soon the flames of their tavern fires will vanish. Soon their
story-telhng wdl cease. As the dying embers glow upon the
shadowy hearth, sleep will descend upon the sons of David and
the silence of night will enshroud them. There, my friends, are
we in spirit. Not a sound disturbs the chilly night. Not one?
But, hark! What sweet melody is echoing on yonder hills ^ What
light illumines the eastern sky? It is the angels' harps sounding
their presence. It is a heavenly chorus praising our God I
[ 124 ]
IT
It was evening when Joseph and Mary first came to the little
)own of Bethlehem. Hundreds of other travelers had preceded
ihem. There was not a room to be rented. But Joseph, remem-
bering how in his own boyhood days he had often carried into a
cavern an ewe lamb which was about to give birth to her little
ones, determined to take Mary to that humble shelter.
Lo! There the mystery of the ages is enacted! As the golden
sunlight casts its ray through a beauteous window of stained
glass, came Chnst, True God and True Man, into the lap of His
virgin mother ! Meanwhile, Joseph, who, probably, had been out-
side gathering'some firewood, looked aloft at the transcendent light
which suddenly shone across the darkened skies. He paused as he
heard a chorus of angelic voices raised on high; then came he
back to the cave to kneel beside Mary— her Babe and her God
pressed close to her breast as the silent, dumb animals breathed
upon Madonna and Child.
The song of the angels rises and swells. The shepherds who
were watching their flocks are struck by its melody. Behold, an
angel stands before them. He tells them: "Fear not! For I bring
thee tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people. For this day
IS born to you a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord, in the City of
David. And this shall be a sign unto _you ; You shall find the Infant
wrapped in swaddHng clothes and laid in a manger." (Luke 2:10.)
My friends, can you not visualize the joy, the happiness that
came to those shepherds ? No wonder they exclaimed : "Let us go
over to Bethlehem!" Can you not picture them as they hastened
to the manger; as they bowed down to kiss the dimpled hands
and feet and caress the curly head of the Word Made Flesh?
Christmas is the feast of liberty. For four thousand years the
chosen people of God waited in expectation for the Messias. If,
during that period, they beheld their armies vanquished, their lands
destroyed and their entire nation subdued by the Egyptians and
others, there was, however, never a time when the fire of hope was
totally extinguished within their hearts.
My fellow Christians, I can understand how men lose faith in
the Herods who would kill Jesus Christ. But I cannot understand
how thoughtftd men shall refuse to do as did the shepherds of old
— to cross over to Bethlehem and kneel this blessed Christmas
before the crib where nestles the Son of God, our Redeemer, our
Liberator.
[ 125 ]
May my humble words revive the angel's song o£ old brin^-
mg you tidings of great joy !
"Let us go over to Bethlehem l" That has been the watchword
down the centunes as nation after nation has taken up the words
of the shepherds. The simple story of Bethlehem from the lips of
the Apostle Andrew converted the proud Greeks. No eloquence
other than the narrative of the Gospel was required in the sermons
of James, who won over the haughty Spaniards. Peter and Paul
preached the good tidings of His birth to the Romans. The glori-
ous Patrick brought it to the Irish; Austin, to the English- Boni-
face, to the Germans. And this week, the angel's message which
was hymned above the hills of Judea shall find welcome in ten
thousand cities, in myriads of hamlets. Indeed, the prophecies
have been fulfilled. Indeed, those who love liberty, will love Christ
His name is great among the Gentiles."
Together with Mary Immaculate and the shepherds and all the
heavenly court gathered m that humble cave, we will pause to
venerate the Word Made Flesh. We will listen as Marv sin-s a
lullaby to her Baby — '^'
(Stanza I)
Shining bright
In the night,
Twinkhng stars
Are above Thee.
Hush my Babe !
Close Thine eyes,
Angel wings
Cover Thee.
(Chorus)
Rest Thy head
On my breast,
Curly head
Thorn caress'd.
Fold Thy hands,
Dimpled hands,
'Gainst the cross
To be pressed.
(Stanza II)
Other babes
Through the years
Nestle close
To their mothers ;
Saddened children
Through their tears
Call upon Thee,
Brother dear.
(Stanza III)
Thou my Son^
Thou my Christ,
Thou my God
And my Sa\':our !
Still my babe.
In my arms
Now and ever
I'll adore.
1
126]
jL
III
Meanwhile, Christ's birth is recorded. His name, great amongst
the gentiles, will be registered at Bethlehem. It is the birth record
of the Son of God Made Man, It is a simple, historic account of
the most important birthday in all the annals of mankind. It reads
as follows :
"In the 5199th year of the creation of the world, from the
time when God in the beginning created the heaven and earth ;
the 29S7th year after the flood; the 201 5lh year from the birth
of Abraham ; the I5l0th year from Moses, and the going forth
of the people of Israel from Egypt; the 1032nd year from the
anointing of David King ; in the 65th week according to the
prophecy of Daniel; in the 194th Olympiad; the 752nd year
from the foundation of the City of Rome; the 42nd year
of the rule of Octavian Augustus, all the earth being at peace,
Jesus Christ, the Eternal God, and the Son of the Eternal
Father, willing to consecrate the world by His most merciful
coming, being conceived by the Holy Ghost and nine months
having passed since Tlis conception, was born in Bethlehem
of Judea of the Virgin Mary, made Man,"
Such is the record carried down the ages — the record which
inspired the Apostles in their preaching ; the glorious record which
gave purpose to the lives of nations. It was a record woven into
the flags of Rome, of Italy, of France and of Germany. It was
an inspiration to the English, Scotch, Irish, Poles, Hungarians
and Austrians. It was a hope for the Russians, the Spaniards,
the Portuguese and Ukrainians. In a word, the birth of Christ
at Bethlehem is identified with all the ideals which the freed
people of the world cherish.
May I remind you that the word "Bethlehem" means "the
house of bread." Amongst the ancient Hebrew people the word
"bread" was used as a synonym to express the ideas of security,
shelter, clothing, liberty — in fact, all the prime necessities with-
out which life would be impossible.
That same meaning was attached to the word "bread" in later
years when the Babe of Bethlehem, grown to manhood, taught us
to pray, "Give us this day our dailv bread."
Bethlehem, the house of bread ! It is the birthplace of the bread
of truth in a world that was mentally starving t:pon the husks
of error; it is the birthplace of the bread of economic abundance
in a world of poverty; it is the birthplace of the bread of liberty
and life everlasting for all the enslaved sons of man — the slaves
[ 127 ]
W
'^Z^^f "^ ^°/u^" ^""^^""y'' °' *^ =^!^ves shackled m modern
Sarknet?''' " ' 'P'"'""' ^'^^"^ ^^'^ ^^^''^^ ^^^^ '^^^ Prince o"
spirSi^L^-ld'^nn' !n°" ^"'', l^''"*^' ^"^ ^^^t-^" t°«'^^ds thee in
:5pinT; J^ead on, silver star We are crr-^fpfnl ^-r~. )-^^^i m ^^
shepherds near the Mother and Child! ^ ^^''^ '"^'^^ '^'
IV
There is more than sentiment attached to the birthday of Christ
The human mmd is not satisfied to be enraptured either by he
X y wkl 'the^ ^'T'^^'^; '-'''''- ""'' ^'^ '' questions answ^ered
moiely with the privilege of witnessing, in spirit the visible -^nd
apparent surround up-s of the crib— the r;ittI^on^ !l ^^^^^^^^"1
the first Christmas. ^ ^ ^""^ ^^^ P°^^^^>^ ^^
Why was the Son of God made Man, we ask?
How ivas it possible for a mother to remain a virgin?
What explanation can science ofTer for an omnipotent God to
become wrapped m swaddling garments ? ^^^poient L.od to
Chrisdans' Xlfy'^'^'y °^ Christmas has a definite meaning for all
^iinstians Theologians refer to it as the Feast of the Incarnn
tion wluch means the feast which commen^orate the Hrthdw
of the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity Made S
In the crib at Bethlehem rested True God and True Man He
s!:^ni.sr^':,i-tSh."^ '-- ''- -'^ '-- *-^--^
As God, it was He Who spangled the heavens with all the stars.
As man, He is no more powerful than was any other baby.
There He is, however. True God and True Man — Om,iin
oteace in bonds, as Cardinal Newman described Him ^"
Person 'o°rthVBl«^"T*> ^'f.? 9"'}'' ^' ^°^ ^' 'he Second
of GodtheSher.'^'' ^"""^- ^^ ^^''^"'^ *^^ He is the Son
As Man He had no father in the same sense that vou and T
Gh"ost°th;t R™' through the power and operation ofTeHoiJ
Uhosl that He was conceived in Ric ,^^fi,L', t,_j_ ^..y
therefore, who was a virgin.
m His mother's body— a mother,
That
nation.
is our bdief. That is part of the mystery of Incar-
[128
But this mystery of the Incarnation is like a vast diamond
with many, many facets. Although Christ had no human father
which, to us, is a biological mystery; although His mother re-
mained a virgin after His birth, which is a physiological mystery,
ihere are still deeper mysteries — more brilliant facets in this great
<liamoiid of the Iiicariiatioii.
Why did Christ come down to earth to endure its poverty, its
suffering, its heartaches and disappointments?
Well, that js_ a. theological mystery. The only answer that I
may submit to you at present is this: Every intelligent person
knew that some serious affliction had befallen human nature.
Here were millions of men, all struggling to be happy. All were
(equipped with intellects capable of knowing the truths capable of
solving difficulties — just the same as the ear is capable of hearing
.sound, or the eye of seeing colors.
Unfortunately, the human intellect did not always grasp the
truth. Often it became enmeshed in error. The mighty will of
man that was made to strive for and obtain what is good was
constantly reaching for things that were evil.
As a result, both individual and social life deteriorated.
Great philosophers and leaders tried their best to rectify the
sad plight into which men had fallen. But all failed. *
They failed because the cause of this intellectual and spiritual
'leterioration was more serious than they suspected — so seriou3
ihat no human power was able to remove it.
We Christians describe this cause by the ugly wordj ''sin" —
original sin and actual sins by which men rebel against God and
choose to become followers of the Prince of Darkness ; sin, which,
111 its first analysis, is an injustice committed against God, Who is
infmite, by human creatures^ who are finite.
Why, then, I ask, did Christ come down to earth to be True
(jod and True Man and like us in all things, save sin?
There is the answer: "The Word became Flesh and dwelt
amongst us primarily to satisfy the divine justice which had been
uutraged by sin. An infinite injustice had been committed; only
;m infinite price paid by an infinite person could satisfy it; and
Ihat infinite price was the IJfe of the infinite Victim Who was
part Man and part God.
Thatj my friends, is the brightest facet in this mystery of the
fncarnation. It is the mystery of love itself — of infinite love!
[129]
If Christ is really God and at the same time really Man are
thsre two persons mingled mysteriously into one ?
Is it a human person that Mary holds close to her breast?
Christianity teaches that she holds only one Person in her
arms ^ a divine Person. Christianity teaches that there are two
natures — a human nature and a divine nature - but only one
Person, a divme Person. -'
Here I am using more or less ordinary words like "person"
sta'd thoroih]?* "°^* "' "^ ''''' '"' ^'■-'^'^ "^^^ -^ -der-
n^.'^.v ^"^'i T *? ™''''*'°" *^' ^y *« ■"'ord "person" we mean
one thing and by the words "human nature" we mean another
thing. Without delving into the philosophy of all this, permit me
to say that every human act. like sleeping, or eating, or walkir
L^^rP-T'^'f '^^"'' performed -[hese were actions flowing
d;v,W ' TT ''''^"''- ^"* ^'^y ^^^ ^" attributable to Hii
divme person which was responsible for everything He did even
as a Man. Consequently, because Christ's person is divne Ind
a dX n' ^""""^fl^'f"' ^hich he performed were actions of
a divine person, therefore every human action of Christ is of
infinite value-valuable enough to pay off the infinite price of our
Sins. *■
isan infiSfp^^^^^ '^^""^ "^^^ ^"^^^^^ ^^^^-^ ^^^-"- He
There, my friends, is what philosophers might call a meta-
physical mystery where two natures -a human nature anri;.
divme nature^ are concentrated in one divine person '
Before passing from the consideration of the mysteries sur-
tiie depths of God s love for us. It is true that we are His crea
tures - but what sinful creatures we have been !
In the first instance, God need never have created us And
m the last mstanc^ He need never have redeemed us- He need
never have paid off the price of our infidelity and opened a^ain
^e gates of heaven for us; He need never have lef? fc joyf of
heaven and accepted the hardships of this life -- its pov^^^^^^^ iu
calumny, its unjust accusations, its crucifixion and S^' He
need never have made us His brothers.
I 130 1
But all these things He did and sealed them with a multitude
of accredited miracles to prove His divinity.
Thus, Christ is divine, and we know He is divine by the actions
He performed.
O Gentle Babe, we will watch You grow to manhood. One
time You will change water into wine; another time, You will
calm the angry waters of Lake Genesereth ; then You will multi-
ply bread, cure the lepers, raise the dead to life ; and, finally, You
will be led a prisoner to Pilate's Hall. There you will be accused
of blasphemy. You will be questioned: "Art Thou the Son of
God?" and Your answer will be; ^'Destroy this Temple and in
three days I will build it up again." Then You wil be crucified;
and on the third day after Your death, Your empty tomb, Your
enemies and Your friends will witness the fact of Your resur-
rection.
Indeed, Gentle Babe, Thou art the Son of God ! Thou alone
art the joy of the world! Thou alone art its hberator and re-
deemer—True God and True Man in one divine Person [
In celebrating the feast of Christmas, let us remember that we
are also celebrating the feast of peace.
The first Christmas was advertised to this world not only by
the appearance of a bright star whose shining was visible to Wise
Men living in a distant country, but also by the propaganda, if I
may use the word correctly, broadcast by the angels in their
hymn, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men
of good will."
As the birth record of Christ indicates, there was peace through
out the Roman Empire on this occasion. The armies had ceased
marching and the battle cries were stilled. There was peace in
the sense that there was no war. But there w^as no peace for the
millions of slaves who had been dispossessed of their lands. There
was no peace for the tribes, principalities and kingdoms which
were forced to pay tribute to the exploitations of a Caesar. There
was no peace in the hearts or minds of the Empire's population
— a population which worshipped the nationalism of Jupiter, the
militarism of Mars, the licentiousness of Venus and the terrors of
Vulcan and his eternal hell.
"Peace, peace, and there was no peace," sounded the voice of
the prophets of old.
There could be no peace unless it was ushered into the world
by Christ Himself — by the same Christ Who, in later years, said
1131]
to His disciples: "Peace 1 leave with you: mv peace I ^rive i.nCn
you : not as the world giveth, do I give i^to you " ^
My friends aad fellow citizens, believers in Jesus Christ the
fea t day of Chnstmas should be for us the f east day of pf ^e 1
^hlXi^ \^^''^ ^."S^"^^ terminates the terrors of war but
which brings to an end the slavery of insecurity the bondnL nf
exploitation and the horrors attendant upon dou^bt and d^^^^^^^^^^^
Alas! 1938 Christmas days have come and ranef But thi'^
Sus?we" T^' "P^" ^^^ ^^^^^^^'^ '' anotherCrid war !
cause we and our parents refuse to accept the conditions uDon
which Christ gives peace to the world. ^onautons upon
The essential condition is that of good will ■ for He nromi.f^rl
f!iii i ^°'^^' "^ot to nations whieh are content to
hunZ S:so'n"7oo°.' t'°"f^ ""f P°"'=y arrivS' "only by
tw ? r?i! ^^'^ "^'^ '^ dependent upon good intellect for
what we choose; what we will; what we do with full knowML/
Its goodness depends upon the accuracy of the knowMge ^ '
n„t 1°T n 'l "°' ^^®?"^' ^"^ *^ tf-'''"«d mind of a pagan to reason
out that God exists, because the world of intellect is overflow n"
c"*on''""'"'' '° ^"^"^ '^'" '""^ P^?- to arriv'aTt^Z"
in SlkhZ\fGo/T'\r'"V' '^' '''-'"''''y that this Babe
confradictorv tS^n' » .u ^^^d*'!"^ of P™of are seemingly
mf^ther n ?7.r P^^^^^J^y the apparent contradiction of a virgin
srfo sa^"^4fctt1etol''?^^"^^^ "^^^^ ^"^^^^ "^^^^^ -"
abo^^r S|dSaS;Si:^ a^^SX—
l^^on^SS^^^gSl-S^^I^rB^
S ,V ~'f ;" "" ?■" »' '"'"M^ "'»•' to crv oit 3 "S
f 132]
In the case of the modern worid as in the former case of the
>n?els" during their period of probation, our destiny towards good
.,r evil, towards prosperity or poverty, towards heaven or heH--
{hls destiny is dependent not so much upon our accepting God
Whose existence no trained, rational man disputes, but upon our
accepting, on the prophetical word of His Father, a Baby as God;
;i Baby Boy surrounded with poverty; the same Baby Boy Who,
vdicn matured as a man, died on a cross surrounded by thieves.
To accept Him as such requires the faith of good will. There-
fore peace on earth to men of good will becomes translated mto
language which reads: "Peace on earth to those who accept the
Christ Child as God; who serve Him, and who follow His precepts
in their logical application."
Everywhere— practically everywhere^? ealing bells are sound-
ing on snow-covered hills or in sun-kissed valleys where youthful
voices carol the message of peace pronounced by angels to the
shepherds of Judea—almost everywhere except Russia, iVlexico
and Loyalist Spain where Christian churches have been desecrated
and where governments have spurned our Christ.
And almost eveT>^vhere--even in our own country— wars and
rumors of wars hll the air. Why must all this be ?
Because vicious propaganda, counter to that pronounced by
the angels, sounds over radio and is muhiplied in_the press. Be-
cause our newspapers are strewn with anti-Christian propaganda
of the war-mongers who are concerned not with advancing the
kingdom of Christ, not with promoting the teachings of Christ,
btit with the expectancy of profits resulting from their policy of
^'non-serviam," the policy of ill-will, the policy of Lucifer.
Twenty years ago we fought a war to end all wars. Today the
fields of Etirope once more are clasping to their cold bosoms the
mangled corpses of Christ's brothers. And tomorrow the little
children gathered about the Christmas tree in your homes wdl be
the victims of this policy of bad will — victims of propaganda
preached by those who refuse to accept the Babe of Bethlehem.
Ah, but this is Christmas — the feast day also of those am-
bassadors who came from the court of heaven to offer peace and
happiness to a heartsick world.
Did not these ambassadors — and the word "angel" means
ambassador ^ did they not inform us that the condition upon
which peace depends is good will ?
1133 1
_ Does not this good will mean God's will? And does not God's
will imply that we accept as our Saviour, as our Messias, as our
God, the_ Babe of Bethlehem even though the crib, the poverty
surrounding it^ and ten thousand other circumstances cry out that,
according to reason, this Child cannot be God ?
Lucifer's proud intellect impelled him to say : "I will not serve."
Christian reason, admitting the existence of mysteries which
transcend all reason, bows down with the shepherds and whispers
an act of faith!
Need we inquire if there can be peace by our joining hands with
those who hate God, who reject His Christ and, therefore, publicly
renounce their devotion to good will ?
Pardon me for obtruding these obnoxious thoughts upon you
this Christmas day. But it grieves me to think that some govern-
ments are so obsessed with the importance of their own might as
to think that liberation from poverty, from disaster or from war
can be foimd in collaborating with those who are opposed to the
policies of the Prince of Peace.
But I suggest these thoughts because Christmas is the feast of
httle children, the feast of divine brotherhood.
_ Oh, Christ Child, nestled at Mary's breast, may the children
ot our America be spared the tortures of persecution and war!
^ May they be spared the Heedlessness of poverty and exploita-
tion \
May they grow to sturdy manhood and womanhood in homes
which enjoy the benedictions brought to men of good will more
than nineteen hundred years ago !
?V^^T" ^°^^^^' mingle with the mothers of America this
day! Tell them the story of your journey from Nazareth to Beth-
\7^^^\J^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ angels, the shepherds and the
Wise Men. Tel! them the story of the Christmas tree laden with
Its gifts— _the green Christmas tree which is a harbinger of
hope; the lighted Christmas tree which is the promise of under-
standing.
And say to them :
"Mothers, particularly do I appeal to you; for this, too, is your
teast day. The dimpled hands, the curly head of your son are
held close to your breast. Soon your little boy will step down
trom the throne of your knee to walk life's highway. May he
walk that pathv/ay side by side with his Elder Brother, my Son
{1341
to Gethsemane, to Calvary, if necessary, but not to Armageddon
■IS a member of a battalion of death to sacrifice his life for any
gospel except for the gospel of love which was born m the stable
Sf Bethlehem on the first Christmas day."
And so, my friends, do we remember Christmas after 1938
years have passed.
In spirit, let us join with the choir in singing —
Come all ye faithful !
Come back to Christ !
Come back to the paths of peace !
Come back to the faith of our childhood day 1
[135
Americanism — Neither
Naziism Nor Communism
Sunday, January 1^ 1939
The occasion of a New Year's discourse seems to suggest that
we take inventory of the past and estabhsh firm rcsohitions for
the future.
The old year has gone. It has vanished as have the hopes
which ushered it into being.
The new year is born. Akhough it falls heir to the disappoint-
ments and heartaches of 1938, nevertheless, we hope that it will
be a wiser year — a year that will not only recog-nlze the short-
comings of its predecessor, but will carry us forwards towards
peace and prosperity.
For almost twenty years the world has been passing through
a cycle of political and economic cliangc that has been alarming
to all patriots and Christians. Immediately following 1918, we
witnessed the liquidation of several old forms of government.
Russia repudiated its czarism. Italy accepted a rule of Fascism. A
few years later German imperialism, after passing through the ex-
periment of democracy, bowed before Adolf Hitler and his Na-
tional Socialist Party.
Other nations evolved other changes, as in the instances of
Turkey, Portugal and China. And still others held fast to the
general pattern of their democratic traditions.
As a common denominator of all these dictatorships, either
forcefully imposed upon the people by a very small minority, as
in Russia, or freely accepted by them, as in the clear-cut case of
Portugal-— as a common denominator we find their origins traced
to economic causes. In every instance the leaders and their fol-
lowers who established a dictatorial form of government at the
sacrifice of civil rights and liberties did so in order to obtain
economic liberties which had been denied them. In every instance
the blame for insufficient food, clothing and shelter was attributed
to the old form of government. Thus, to obtain a sufficiency of
life's economic necessities, economic individualism was discarded
[136]
the old. •^
This twin revolution in politics and economics was accom^-'=d
S:;i°iS:l^ to "^hich is s4ordinated the supra-nat.onal
activities of rehgion. ,
Th^ vear 1939 is not a new year in the sense that we have
ihe year ij:>y i^ ii^^ J ^ g ^^^\\ ^^t-
combat between Communism and Naznsm. ^ j^' - ^ 9
A. wp enter 1939 we find civiUzation roughly divided, politi
zens- ,
On every hand nations are either at war or are busy armmj
against riSble day when Communism and Na.nsm n,e.
in a battle unto death.
Russia boasts that it has 20-million soldiers together with atnpl
resources! p'nes, munitions and supplies to defend the pnnpple
of Comraunisra,
Fncbnrl France Germany, Italy and Belgium are workin
fevSTtoSul^^^^^^^^ natio'nals w.th instruments of defens.
and offensive wan
Spain is engaged ip the most gruesome and destructive inter^
necine struggle of all time.
China and Japan are pursuing the -undisturbed course of an
undeclared war.
Prooa-andists in all neutral nations are bending every eftort
to ha e^fce'r go4rnments commit themselves to the s,de of Cot^-
muni m or of^Taziism. Spokesmen, both ofhca! and unoffiaa m
~wn country are intimating that we, too, must prepare to take
sides Tn this impending struggle on one side or the othei .
[137]
Pause to examine more closely the attitude of democratic
America as we face this crisis. Unfortunately, many of our citi-
zens entertain the opinion that American democracy must be sacri-
ficed in order to gain economic security. More than that, these
persons are willing to make definite commitments in favor of
Naziism on the one hiind, or of Communism on the other. Another
group, influential in finance, radio^ press and cinema, refuses to
participate officially as a group in counteracting the spread of
Communism but is most vigorous in condemning Naziism.
This perilous condition is deplorable; for no true American
can entertain favor for either Communism or Naziism; no true
American can refrain from forcefully condemning both these
excesses, cost what it may, and no intelligent American can con-
clude that, to obtain economic redress, we must sacrifice our
democracy.
However, we must face facts as we find them. We must admit
that the pro-Communist sentiment in America is in the ascend-
ancy, if we believe the public opinion poll conducted by Dr. George
Gallup.
This condition was brought about chiefly through the instru-
mentahty_of newspaper and radio propaganda together with shal-
low thinking on the part of those who were exposed to it.
To promote this insidious campaign for enlisting the mass of
Americans to favor the Moscow plan, our people are being del-
uged with accounts of Nazi atrocities — and scarcely a word is
printed regarding Communist murders.
Just last week a local paper printed an official summary of the
Communist murders in Spain, informing its readers in an inch
and three-quarters article that 12,500 ministers of the gospel of
Christ were murdered by the Loyalists, supporters of Stalinism.
Three weeks previous to this, this same paper published articles
page upon page lamenting a $400-million fine imposed on 600,000
Jews by the Nazis in Germany,
Anotlier paper insinuates that he who is an anti-Communist is
an anti-Semite, even though he is also anti-Nazi. Our people are
told that Communism is a form of democracy, and that Fascism
and Naziism are outright tyrannies. But Americans are seldom
warned that both these un-American forms of government must
be stamped out peremptorily. They are seldom advised that the
free" speech of the Communist or the "free" speech of the Nazi
maf not be used to destroy the free speech of the American.
In the face of all this I ask calmly : "What of Americanism and
our democracy ? Is there no one to defend them ?"
[138]
J
While the Bopular mind has been poisoned by the lethal gas
m^mm
WaSton Jefierson, Lincoln and Jackson, lor which our an-
cestors suffered and died. ^ , nj- *■
At^nin I ask ■ "Is there no one to defend Americanism? Must
theliSoutf sincere Americans ^^ focused ^onst^nly upon
these un-American heresies?" Is it not time, th s New Year s my,
'n orP-anize^ourageousIy against both Commumst and Nazi in our
nat'ofand drive' thenfa'd their unconvertible supporters into
Russia or Germany where they belong?
1939 and the years immediately following will witness the com_-
plet on of'he prLtnt cycle in which we are living-^ cycle wh:ch
?ill culminate only with victory for Communism or Naziism, oi m
the supremacy of Christian democracy over both.
' The two political systems of totalitarianism _ one a dictator-
shio of international godlessness and the other a dictatorship of
Xnll race suprema'cy one ^ }^°^<^-f-^^g^;:^ : J^^::'
and the other a thorough-gomg form of state control ot letigion,
one a notorious butcher of Christians and the other a notorious
dsoaraTer of Jews -these t^^-o cannot exist together nor can
e ther fne o hem live within the confines o one nation with
Christian democracy - Christian ^-ocracj^ the regime o^ r^^^
tional liberty founded upon the moral code of God the 1 atner ana
ffis divine Son, Jesus Christ. The United States ot America is
not large enough for both democracy and Communism or Naziism.
Therefore it is to be hoped that this year will find the iiiarticu-
late easygoing and long-suffering American pubhc divorcing
^ self tonf?he\ifluences of propaganda and asserting > self mos^
vigorously against Communism and its atheism; against Naznsm
Ind ts e4-|erated ideas of nationalism. Let us stand undivided
?or American Christian democracy even though this will necessitate
sternSn against the highly organized forces which -^^ endeav-
01 in" to destroy our ideals-forces endeavoring to substitute for
them either the'brazen, godless internationaUsm of the Kremlm or
the sxiper-nationalistic theories of Berlin.
Americans fought a Civil War ^-J'^'^Ff'^^jflX^^i
nation. How many Americans are there this New tears Uay
[1391
■■■
who are willing to engage in a more important civil conflict if
necessary, to preserve the democratic liberties of this country?
Let those who are with us reap the rewards; let those who
oppose us by their silence or their actions suffer the consequences.
These are militant words. But it were cowardice to evade a
definite issue when we witness the first results of the premeditated
destruction surrounding us.
Before discussing; the hysteria which is impelling our nation to
participate in the world-wide race for supremacy in armaments
and the tendency to cast our lot with the policies and destinies of
toreign dictators, permit me to speak of the Munich Peace Pact
and the events leading to it, for it has a bearing upon our future.
The most important single eve«t which characterized 1938 was
the Munich Peace Pact. And the most important man of the year
was Neville Chamberlain, Premier of Great Britaim who made
possible the Pact.
Immediately prior to the signing of the Peace Pact, the Ameri-
can press and radio shed oceans of tears over the possible parti-
tion of Czechoslovakia which, slowly but surely, was bein^ com-
munized by a band of atheists. Little or no publicity was P?ven in
th.^ press or radio to Cardinal Kaspar's pastoral letter— Cardinal
Kaspar, the primate of C2echo5lovakia. In pathetic words he said:
'". . . m this country God was affronted by the puiline
down of the memorable statues in the midst of our capital
city . . Idols were displayed before the nation for worship
as the redeemers. Prominent public leaders dared not even
mention the name of the true, loving God and our Saviour
Jesus Chnst in their utterances . . ,
, ^l ?^."«t wi^h to recall all that was done at that time to
de-Christiamze our nation, beginning with the youth in the
schools. But It IS a comforting fact that many people have
since found and acknowledged those mistakes."
My fellow Americans, why did the press and radio delude our
nation with professional lamentation to the occasion of Czecho-
slovakia s partition.^ Was it their purpose to arouse our sympa-
hies for an oppressed mmority, or was it their design, if possible,
U^ have England, France, America and Russia declare war against
?0nr'V^ r/ 'h^ T"^^ ^^ l^^"' ^^ ^ ^^^^^^' f^^ the agitators
J.OOO miles distant m America but gruesome for the peoples of
Even though the partition was an injustice to be condemned,
I 140]
what complaint did this same press and radio utter when the god-
less rulers of this victimized country stole the liberty of religion
from the hearts of its people ? Scarcely a word.
No wonder, then, that Cardinal Kaspar concluded his pastoral
letter by saying :
"Was it not a heartbreaking announcement that was niade
at the International Godless Congress recently in London,
that Czechoslovakia comes next, after Soviet Russia, in the
number of organized godless propagandists?"
Holding no brief for the German acquisition of a portion of
Czechoslovakia, which portion was nevertheless predominantly
German, but merely referring to this incident which led up to the
Munich Peace Pact, the year 1938 in American propaganda will
be remembered for generations to come. Because of it, we were
almost constrained to believe that England, France, Russia and
the United States should declare war against Germany for this so-
called aggression. Fantastic suggestions were heralded throughout
the nation intimating that our own national security was in jeop-
ardy, and that the British Empire was on the verge of collapse
unless 20-million men should sacrifice their lives or their fortunes
to sustain the godlessness of which Cardinal Kaspar otficially com-
plained.
We will also remember that above the din of this hymn of hate
there emerged the clear, courageous voice of Neville Chamberlain
which re-echoed the angel's song once sounded above Bethlehem s
stable. He refused to be stampeded or coerced by propaganda. Me.
chose peace, recognizing the futility of war.
To him and his Cabinet, more than to any other group of men
in all this world, does this generation owe its gratitude. Had his
miehtv ofice as Premier been occupied by a fashion plate _ot
radicalism, a world war— so greatly desired by the Communists
and by their international supporters— would now be m progress.
As a result of Chamberlain's action, Communism experienced a
tremendous reversal in Ei^rope. It was only a reversal, however
—not a defeat—a reversal which necessitated a change in plans
and tactics.
Thus from Europe to America their base of operations was
moved To gain control of our America became the objective of
the international radicals. To liquidate our democracy and sub-
stitute for it a dictatorship became their goal. Only America, so
thev decided, could turn the tide in favor of Stahn; only America
could force the retirement of Chamberlain and his policies;
only through the capture of this nation with its finance, its mdus-
1141]
try and its power could there be realized the dreams of anti-
Christ. America, so they believe, even now can force Britain and
France to eng-age in a world war to assure an international victory
for Communism.
My friends, if Communism and ?\'aziism must come to grips
let America remember that she is beholden to neither one of
them; let America remember the golden counsel of her first and
greatest President which warns us today as it did yesterday to
keep clear of foreign entanglements.
In_ these days when, according to propaganda, one is un-
American if he is American; when one is anti-Semite if he is anti-
Communist, it might be worthwhile to revive a paragraph or two
printed in the Congressional Record of February 9, 1917.
In one sense 1939, with its violent pro-Communist propaganda,
and 1917, with its outrageous atrocity stories, are somewhat
related.
In 1917, the late Senator Caraway wrote into our official gov-
ernment records a statement which reads as follows :
_ "In March, 191S, the J. P. Morgan interests, the steel,
shipbuilding, and powder interests, and their subsidiary or-
ganizations, got together 12 men high up in the newspaper
world and employed them to select the most influential news-
papers in the United States and a sufficient number of them
to control generally the policy of the daily press of the
United States.
"These 12 men worked the problem out by selecting 179
newspapers, and then began, by an elimination process, to
retam only those necessary for the purpose of controlling the
general policy of the daily press throughout the country.
They found _it was only necessary to purchase the policy,
national and international, of these papers; an agreement was
reached; the policy of the papers was bought, to be paid
for by the month; an editor was furnished 'for each paper
to properly supeiwise and edit information regarding the
questions of preparedness, miHtarism, financial policies, and
other things of national and international nature considered
vital to the interests of the purchasers."
That is a part of the propaganda story of 1917.
The parallel now is evident. While no one is intimating
that the house of J. P. Morgan and Company or any other finan-
cial house is advocating the cause of Communism through the
press, 1939 will witness a very definite and determined effort on
[ 142 1
the part of a certain group m A™^^^^^^^ f-^X'
profit and nationalism for internationalism.
bills now prepared, or m the P^^;^^^^ ^JJ" ^^ . ^y^ moment the
While «. re.dil, »l».it «.= «»..«, of k~f ,P'T.1m-
™„ mMssMlv » defe»ilv= war; whJc we >re gM tW ■ '"S
4 000 airplanes on the west coast is at long last receiving
-what nation, I ask, will be our aggressor?
Not Taoan Too many thousands of miles separate us irom
equipment and food and munitions.
^ , T?..cc5a'c 7n-million troops would seize an op-
America. ^ , ^. .
Not Great Britain. This is a friendly nation.- Our destimes
are too interwoven for any serious hostility to originate from that
source to cause us consternation.
Whv then is 1939 ushered into America with a fanfare of
wXe/must we conclude that we are preparing for an offensive
war^ Let us weigh this question.
To it there is only one of two answers: It may be a plan on
the mrtoTa government which has failed to break the back of
h Session through consumer expen^ituresjo^^^^
campaign of producer expenditures. In other words, the policy
1X431
t
nionp-ers nrnflf.^ fr, +T „ •,■ ' ^aiistdCtion to the war-
-on that we^ are preparinf to /au^^^^^ 7" ""^" '^"^ '"^P"-
destruction against ^^eLan^. MjrSnTnd^rtu^a" ^^"^"^^ °^
Sf'>i;.-. ^1 t ^^"^^stently sympathized with the vohaAi of
they, I beheve, who are most responsiL^l'r'fte trhysterir '"
meless. .t was a convenient persecution, even though a was un-
dispSs ?"'"^'' '""' "" "°' '^^'•"^^ *-t modern wars settle no
wa^^aJ^,^:.:^^X^^i^-"^? ^° -^ -* --'™ *^^t
poor men— the la^rer, nnrl f ^ ° T "'"^ appreciate that
their lives or thdr liberties^ '^^^''^-P^^y ^^ all_wars-pay with
t 144 J
to Senator Bennett Champ Clark, writing in the month's "Coun-
try Gentleman Magazine" :
"Troops were levied, not through the states as in pre-
vious wars but by the direct action and authority of the
Federal Government. Control of production distribution and
price of commodities was undertaken from Washington on a
basis ai.d scale never dreamt of before. Not only local
officials but governors of states as well were called on the
telephone from the nation's capitol and brusquely informed
what they could and could not do. For the first ime in
American history the people were ordered from Washington
when to sow and when to reap— a situation which ^ ihomas
Jefferson had canmly predicted long before its existence—
a situation that would cause the people to soon want bread .
Oh how many of those who applauded our entrance into the
World M'^ar lived to "soon want bread" ; lived to become wards ot
the Federal Government on the W.P.A. ?
During the time of the World War to which Senator Clark
refers a ^reat part of our economic destiny was m the hands ot
Bernard Baruch who, more than any other citizen, was respons-
ible for centralized power under the title of the Chairman ot the
War Industries Board, member of the Advisory Comniission ot
National Defense and Chairman of Its Committee on Kaw Ma-
terials, Minerals and Metals.
The parallel of 1939 to 1917 becomes more apparent ^vhen we
review the several bills soon to be presented to Congress tor the
purpose of centralizing all power, all industry, all commerce and
all American activity in the hands of a small group of undected
men at Washington with, possibly, Mr. Baruch as the presidential
appointee to supervise the so-called military preparedness.
I have before me a House of Representatives Bill No. 9604.
It is popularly known as the May Bill and is one of several bills
of the same ilk favored by the present Administration for passage
during this coming session. It is divided mto eleven sections and
reads, in part, as follows :
Section 1 : "That whenever Congress shall declare war
the President is authorized to determine and publicly pro-
claim it to be unlawful to buy, sell, lease, or otherwise con-
tract for any article, service, or right or interest m property,
enumerated in such proclamation, or proclamations, at a
higher rate, rent, price, commission, compensation, or reward
than was in effect at a date or dates determmed and set forth
in such proclamation or proclamations."
[ 145 ]
In other words, this Bill gives the President of the United
btates the absolute and sole power to set prices and determine
profits of any article directly or indirectly used for military
purposes. ^
Section 2 gives the President power to readjust prices and
profits whensoever he pleases if he sees the prices and profits
determined m Section I are not satisfactory to him.
Section 3: '^During such time of war the President is
authorized to determine and publicly proclaim from time to
time the material resources, industrial organizations, pub-
he services, and security or commodity exchanges over which
Government control, including requisitioning materials for
use or resale by the Government, shall then be necessary
Thereupon such control shall be exercised by the President
to the extent determined and publicly proclaimed by him to
be necessary, and subject to such conditions, exemptions,
rules and regulations as he may prescribe and publicly
proclaim," ^
This bill, therefore, plans to give the President fuU power to
commandeer, requisition, seize or confiscate all material resources
public services and commodity exchanges, farms and factories
which, in his judgment, shall be required by the government.
Section 4 of the Bill reads: "That in the event of war
declared by Congress, which in the judgment of the Presi-
dent demands the immediate increase of the militaiy estab-
lishment, the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to
draft into the military service of the United States such
members of the un-organized militia between the ages of
twenty-one and thirty-one as he may deem necessary, subject
to such conditions, exceptions, rules, and regulations as the
President may prescribe and publicly proclaim/'
^^ Section 5 plans to give the President power to register
any or alf individuals engaged in the management or control
of any industrial establishment designated by him Indi-
viduals registered pursuant to the provisions of this section
may be required to enter into the service of the Government as
civilians for the duration of the war under such rules and
regulations as the President may prescribe/"'
Section 6 reads: "During such time of war the President
IS authorized from time to time to determine, and to publicly
proclaim, what classes of public service, real and personal
property, or rights or interests therein, and what classes of
[ 146 ]
I
Cerate or to be operated under licenses, to fix the conditions
ofsuch licenses/and to grant licenses under sucl. condi-
^'in'othe^ words this i. the si^perlative dream of a Moscow
^^Tection 7 of this iniquitous proposal gives absolute dictatorial
power1o°the Pre.dent U to th'e P-^^-t/^-^^^f /™ducef
L Pnority .n whic^^^^^^^^^^^ - P^^^-
not favorable to the Soviet policies.
Section 8 is a most revealing part of this legislation. It reads
as follows : ri.ii
-As used in this Act. the term 'in time of war shall mean
the toe intervening between the declaration of war by
Sng^Ss and the passage by Congress of a resolution diat
such war has terminated.
Section 9 would empower the President for the du^^tion of
war to appoint such agencies, boards, or commissions to accom
nli.h the nurposes of this act. Moreover, it gives him dictatorial
So ity to tonsfer executive agencies, bureaus and d„isions
thereof to any government official in these Umted States.
Section 10 designates the fines and punishments to be imposed
upon all those Sn any way become guilty of a misdemeanor m
connection with this Act.
Section U proposes that "During any war in which the
United States may be engaged there shall be m effect a system
STaxadofwhich^hall absorb all profits above a fair normal
return to be fixed by Congress.
Mv friends this is startling mtormation to the majority of
AmerLns who are living in a fool's paradise, imagmmg hat his
democScy of ours is unassailed from within its own walls when
on the very door-step of this year 1939, four or five bdls similar
to the Jne which I have condensed for you, are prepared to _de-
stroyl-to hurl us into a hell of war on the side of Communism
[147 1
u
1 pi
and to establish a dictatorial form of ^overniiienf ;. H^rt.. • i
form of STovernment whirh ..r.r.^ ^-u S'^^^^^^^^^^^J^— a dictatorial
bill goJiuto ef^^Tn^tS^^^^^^ ^^^^ -,- --^^a^
any war is even declarer ^v.^ actua ly engaged m but when
But more pertinent to the declaration of war is the following
not been restored to theh^ ri^Hfn r ^ Properties have
Department was milder i^^tsS ''^^' ^^^ ^'^'^
than it was in its recent answerTn tL r ^aidenas government
has conhscatod no AnllcaTp.operde? ^--— t which
And only a few days ago the son of the President
United Statis, in a radio address,
something must be done relative
of the
informed the American pubhc
be done relative to Mexico.
but as yet the United States Go-
Jvern^
that It is obvious
He said ; "Mexico has acted
ment has not begun to act"
a communistic Mexico the
playmg hand-in-glove with
desirous of creating a dicta-
restoration of American property-
harbmger of Trots3.y, who may be
those^ in the United Staterwho^
are
J J J . ' ^^y ^'^^^ be idle speculations
founded on fear or fact, one policy
Let
us
I
torship ?
Please God. ...... „.^,- ,,m ,.,,„ ,.,„.,..,_.: „
rtowever, be they
IS certain for Americans •
Washington'rcounseJ'of°nn*''/ ''"''"'^^'^^'^^^'^^i^ that we respect
forth, Z wil observe 1-"? ^^°^f SJ^"'''"^'''"^^*^ ■ *at hence-
and Stripes to flv f"m a stio'fn^f ?:' TVP'™^'"'"^ *« Stars
in her hold; that we w,^ nnt in^f "'^^"^^'-"i that carries munitions
borliness by repeating n,?°Vf^' "P°" '''= '^*= "^ S°oJ neigh-
China now'^enS fn war vfth ^/nf V'^'^'^'S ?2S-milHon^o
youn, radicals%S be reghLIt d fert^thtl.'l! "°^ P^^'"''
Communist Spain, ^^^bt for the cause of
the nl::: m'thirrld'suppYrir"^ *° ="'°"" ^'°« *^* "^ -"
Loyalists in Spain there aTnX^t?' ^'"S'^'^f & *e Communist
and the United States Every oth'^.rnadnn"'7''^' '^"^"^' ^''"^'^^^
:ng Great Britain, the largestfand the V " ^P"'"''^"^^. -^ud-
has recognized General Franco's
prfcfcllwr^'^'""^' - because^F;;-. government
practically three-quarters of the " c^^iincnt
'atican State, the smallest
gojernment either de jure or de
territory of Spain.
[148]
controls
Again I ask you: "Is there no voice to be raised for America
and democracy, for America, and for our traditions ?" Most as-
suredly there is. There are millions of God-fearing, America-
loving citizens who are neither joiners nor factionalists— men who
are content to sit serenely by their firesides with their families —
men, who in a crisis prove to be the bravest of all. Those men and
their families will rise during this year 1939 to keep America safe
for Americans and the Stars and Stripes the defender of God!
So this is 1939. Possibly— yes, probably, Europe will be in
war by 1940. The forces of Naziism and Communism will clash
in mortal combat. America must stand aloof !
At home there are still 12-million men out of work. We will
not liquidate them by teaching them how to manufacture poison
gas or shrapnel or by dressing them up as targets for enemy
machine guns. Rather, we will turn our minds to solving the
industrial and agricviltural problems which confront us. From
European wars, America must stand aloof !
This is 1939. As yet the bilHons of dollars loaned to Euro-
peans to conduct the last war remain unpaid. V/e will not loan
these nations more billions and more lives — and reap more death,
a greater depression and the loss of democracy. America must
stand aloof 1
This is 1939. Now we are being conditioned to take sides
either for or against Communism; for or against Naziism with
scarcely a word spoken in defense of Americanism. When shall
Americans cry down the propagandists and turn their attention to
America? From European wars, America must stand aloof!
In three or four weeks — possibly three or four months' — the
opportune time will arrive when every citizen who stands for
Americanism, for the Constitution and for liberty must be pre-
pared to support his Congressman in voting out of existence the
dictatorial bills which are now prepared on the pretext of national
defense.
1939 finds Americans standing at the barricades of liberty. Be-
hind us stretch 162 years of freedom. Before us yawns a vortex
of national doom. Behind us are five generations of civil and in-
dustrial growth. Before us beckons the spectre of commercial
decay and industrial slavery. Behind us have rolled sixteen decades
of religious freedom under the Bill of Rights and democracy. Be-
fore us stands, gaunt and threatening, the ogre of intolerance, of
hate and of war. It is within our power to make the future as
glorious as the past. But the future depends upon the answer to
the question; "Shall we participate in a European war and de-
l 149 ]
generate into dictatorship, or shall we organize to preserve
democracy and keep clear of foreign entanglements?"
In its current issne "The Brooklyn Tablet" says editorially:
^ "War advocates and international meddlers will be par-
ticularly active in Washington next week. A 'Lift-the~em-
bargo-on-Spam' convention will be held. In addition, the
'American League for Peace and Democracy' — an outfit
which hke the late Mr. Coster hides its racket under an as-
sumed name— will convene and engage in its usual activities
of promoting Communism, through attacking 'Fascism', thus
misleading the public.
"The general theme of the two conventions will be to lift
the embargo on Spain. Just now when our nation tenders its
sympathy to the persecuted in Germany, these zealots have the
effrontery to demand that arms and ammunitions be sent to
the persecutors of Christians in Spain. The advocates of
collective security/ the stooges for Stalin, demand we act
to save a tottering regime that has denied every human right
to the Spanish people. "The Tablet" voices the protests of
thousands of Christian Americans against putting across this
infamous deal We base our protests on these grounds :
"1. The United Stales shall not abandon its traditional
program of neutrality and shall not mix into a foreign war.
"2. We shall not go into the BLOOD BUSINESS, ac-
cepting com so that men, women and children can be mur-
dered. We shall not bow down to the lordly, greedy munition
niakerswho are in great glee, verging on shouting joy, as
they vision the hope somebody mav lead the nation into
another war.
"3. We shall not become the tools of the internationalists
who drove us into the last war and who believe the United
States will go abroad to fight Germany, Italy, Spain and
Japan."
Th!s is America— a reawakened America — an America that
stands one hundred per cent for Americanism— an America that
will have no patience either with Naziism or Communism- an
America that still stands by the traditions of our forefathers-
traditions of liberty, traditions of godliness, traditions upon which
we must establish a sane, Christian nationalism. From Europea
entanglements ; from Naziism, Communism and their future wars'
America must stand aloof !
ATHEISTIC
COMMUNI
ENCYCLICAL LETTER
(Divini Redemptoris)
OF
HIS HOLINESS, POPE PIUS XI
(Vafican Press TraDslaiton)
ISSUED MARCH I 9. 1937
[150]
RADIO LEAGUE OF THE LITTLE FLOWER
ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN
Encyclical Letter o£ Pope Pius XI
on
"AxnEisTic Communism"
Published by
KeV. ChAS. E, COUGHLIN
Prices :
Single' Copies, 10c; 50 Copies, $2.50; 100 Copies, $4.50
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Encyclical Letter
On Atheistic Communism
POPE PIUS XI
the «PK«'l?"ch.i*an ""'i'*"?";! teen laboti-
^^^^^
•
2 Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
^^^^^^^— ^j^^^^^HS^tS^^I^^ exceeds
R.iJ^'^ ^" *''° imminent danger, Venerahlp
I
ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH
TOWARDS COMMUNISM
Previous Condemnations
4. In the face of such a threat, the Catholic
Church could not and does not remain silent. This
Apostolic See, above all, has not refrained from
raisins' its voice, for it knows that its proper and
social mission is to defend truth, justice and all
those eternal values which Communism ip^nores or
attacks. Ever smce the days when groups of **intel-
lectuals" were formed in an arrogant attempt to
free civilization from the bonds of morality and
religion, Our Predecessors overtly and exphcitly
drew the attention of the world to the consequences
of the de-Christianization of human society. With
reference to Communism, Our Venerable Predeces-
sor, Pius IX, of holy memory, as early as 1846
pronounced a solemn condemnation, which he con-
firmed in the words of the Syllabus directed against
"that infamous doctrine of so-called Communism
which is absolutely contrary to the natural law
itself, and if once adopted would utterly destroy
the rights, property and possessions of all men, and
even society itself."^ Later on, another of Our
Predecessors, the immortal Leo XIII, in his Ency-
lEncycl. Qui Plurihus, Nov. 9, 1846 (Ada Pii IX, Vol. I, p. 13).
Cf. Syllabus, IV, (A. A. S., Vol. Ill, p. 170),
4 Encyclical op Pope Pius XI '
cHcal, Quod Apostolki Muneris, defined ( -,,
nism as "the fatal plague which insiniialc:, ..
into the very marrow of human society nnl
bring about its ruin." ^ With dear intni
pointed out that the atheistic movemenis ,
among the masses of the Machine Am- 1,,,.! ,
origin m that school of philosophy which I,,,
tunes had sought to divorce science from il.
oi the Faith and of the Church.
Acts of Peesent Pontificat).:
5. During Our Pontificate We. ton ,
/^.vquently and with urp- ent insistence dem .. i .
^ current trend to atheism which is ala rmi,,. i
the increase. In 1924, when Our relief ^n.. ,. ,
turned from the Soviet Union, We c(,ndM,
Communism in a special Allocution ^ vvlii, I,
addressed to the whole world. In Our I'ihv: i,
Miserentissimus Redemptor/ Ouadragesim.. I
^ru-''*A.P"''^'*'''' ^'^^''^^« ^«w;»7 I)ilr,n
JSobis/ We raised a solemn protest again^^l
seditions unleashed in Russia, in Mexico .,i„l -
m ispam. Our two Allocutions of last vr ,, ,
hrst on the occasion of the opening of llu' I,.,
national Catholic Press Exposition, and \W h,
during Our audience to the Spanish refut-cr- .
withOur message of last Christmas, h;u , ,
X///' Vol' P'^%^-^l"""''i" Muneris, Dec, 28, 1878 (.-U u, ■
May 3, 1932: A. A. S., Vol XXlv (l932^'p^''ijr,; ' '
8 f 'P'' ,2')n'F: A. A. S., Vol. XXIV (1532) m, V ' ■
«.Tuie 3, 1933 : A. A. S., Vol XXV (1933) pp^^oi vi '
On Atheistiic Communism 5
., Id-wide echo whichi is not yet spent. In fact,
mo st persistent eneiT TJ^s of the Church, who
M oscow are direct ing- the struggle against
I Ki n civilization, thi. ^mse.lves bear witness, by
. un ceasing attacks i:. n word and act, that even
i„, li our the Papacy ^has continued faithfully
.M.ir ct the sanctuary of the Christian religion,
I hat it has called puit ^-hc attention to the perils
- ..iMi numsm more frr equentlv and more effec-
1_, i lian any other pui blic authority on earthy
rJi.;i.;n of Another S^olemn Pronouncement
. T.) Our great satissf action, Venerable Breth-
v«u have, by meams of individual and even
, I Pastoral Letters, ^accurately transmitted and
I ,,hc<l to the Faithfuul these admonitions. Yet
,„!<■ Our frequent ^ rid paternal warning, the
,1 onl y grows greatei r from day to day because
l,r i. ressure exerted Ibv clever agitators. There-
Wc believe it to Fbe Our duty to raise Our
, ,. once more, in a sitill more solemn missive m
.rd with the traditio:.ii of this Apostolic See, the
,,|icr of Truth, andl in accord with the desire
.!,.• whole Catholic v.vorld, which makes the ap-
i.iiire of such a document but natural. We
I ihat the echo of 'Our voice will reach every
■ d I fee from prejudioce and every heart sincerely
Muns of the good of mankind. We wish this
, M„ir<- because Our- words are now receiving
, , V .onrn-mation frotrn the spectacle of the bitter
., of subversive ideas, which We foresaw and
6 Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
fully m the countries already stricken, or threaten
mg every other country of the world. ^^"^^^n-
synthSrthi^n ^''^ r ^^T^^ °"^^ '"^^^ i" =^ brief
from the St^"--- ^'^'^^^ hmnana^ can be saved
COMMUNISM IN THEORY AND
PRACTICE
Doctrine
8. The CommunisTn of today, more emphati-
cally than similar movements in the past, conceals
in itself a false messianic idea. A pseudo-ideal of
justice, of equality and fraternity in labor impreg-
nates all its doctrine and activity with a deceptive
mysticism, which communicates a zealous and con-
tagious enthusiasm to the multitudes entrapped by
delusive promises. This is especially true in an age
like ours, when unusual misery has resulted from
the unequal distribution of the goods of this world.
This pseudo-ideal is even boastfully advanced as if
it were responsible for a certain economic progress.
As a matter of fact, when such progress is at all
real, its true causes are quite different, as, for in-
stance, the intensification of industrialism in coun-
tries which were formerly almost without it, the
exploitation of immense natural resources, and the
use of the most brutal methods to insure the
achievement of gigantic projects with a minimum
of expense.
9. The doctrine of modern Communism, which
is often concealed under the most seductive trap-
pings, is in substance based on the principles of
dialectical and historical materialism previously
advocated by Marx, of which the theoricians of
8
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
bolshevism claim to possess the only genuine inter-
pretation. According to this doctrine, there is iii i
the world only one reality, matter, the blind forces
of which evolve into plant, animal and man. Even ]
/^'w h^^'^an society is nothing but a phenomenon and '
^ ^ form of matter, evolvin^q; in the same way. By a
law of inexorable necessity and through a perpetual
conflict of forces, matter moves towards the final
^
-■■I /
<::^
>
synthesis of a classless society. In such a doctrine,
as is evident, there is no room for the idea of God ;
there is no difference between matter and spirit,
between soul and body; there is neither survival
of the soul after death nor any hope in a future
life. Insisting- on the dialectical aspect of their
materialism, the Communists claim that the conflict
which carries the world towards its final syn thesis
, can be accelerated by man. Hence they endeavor
/ to sharpen the antagonisms which ari se between
the various classes of society. Thus the class-
strug-gle, with its consequent' violent hate and
destruction, takes on the aspects of a crusade for
the progress of humanity. On the other hand, all
other forces whatever, as long as they resist such
systematic violence, must be annihilated as hostile
to the human race.
10. Communism, moreover, strips man of his
-ji g \ liberty, robs human personality of all its dignity.
- ^ and removes all the moral restraints that check the
eruptions of blind impulse. There is no recognition
of any right of the individual. in his relations to
the collectivity; no natural right is accorded to
On Atheistic Communism 9
human personality, which is a mere cog-wheel in
the Communist system. In man's relations with
other individuals, besides, Communists hold the
principle of absolute equality, rejecting _ all hier-
archy and divinely-constituted authority, including
the authority of parents. What men call authority
and subordination is derived from the community
as its first and only font. Nor is the individual
granted any property rights over material goods
or the means of production, for inasmuch as these
are the source of further wealth, their possession
would give one man power over another. Precisely
on this score, all forms of private property must
be eradicated, for they are at the origin of all eco-
nomic enslavement.
11, Refusing to human life any sacred or spirit-
ual character, such a doctrine logically makes of
(f ) niarriaG-e and the family a purely artificial and civil
institution, the outcome of a specific economic sys-
tem. There exists no matrimonial bond of a
jundico-moral nature that is not subject to the
whim of the individual or of the collectivity. Nat-
urally, therefore, the notion of an indissoluble
marriage-tie is scouted. Communism is particularly
characterized by the rejection of any link that binds
woman to the family and the home, and her emanci-
pation is proclaimed as a basic principle. She is
withdrawn from the family and the care of her
children, to be thrust instead into public life and
collective production under the same conditions as
man The care of home and children then devolves
upon the collectivity. Finally, the right of educa-
tion is denied to parents, for it is conceived as the
'k
I
S'
^ I
10
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
On Atheistic Communism
11
exclusive prerogative of the community, in whose
name and by whose mandate alone parents may
exercise this right,
12. What would be the condition of a human
society based on such materialistic tenets? It would
be a collectivity with no other hierarchy than that
of the economic system. It would liave only one
mission : the production of material things by
(a) means of collective labor, so that the goods of this
world might be enjoyed in a paradise where each
would ' 'give according to his powers'' and would
'^receive accordini-: to his needs." Communism rec-
ognizes in the collectivity the right, or, rather,
unlimited discretion, to draft individuals for the
labor of the collectivity with no regard for their
personal welfare; so that even violence could be
legitimately exercised to dragoon the recalcitrant
against their wills. In the Communistic common-
wealth morality and law would be nothing but a
derivation of the existing economic order, purely
earthly in origin and unstable in character. In a
word, the Communists claim to inaugurate a new
era and a new civilization which is the result of
blind evolutionary forces culminating in a human-
ity without God. ji(S'" -'it ,.: .'■^^,.
13. When all men have finally acquired the col-
lectivist mentality in this Utopia of a really class-
less society, the political State^which is now con-
(h) ceived by Communists merely as the instrument
by which the proletariat is oppressed by the capital-
ists, will have lost all -reason for its existence and
1
^H f~
achievement of its goal.
14 Such Venerable Brethren, is the new gospel
the world as the glad ^^"^f^^ , ^^j soph- J V^
the State; because it denies the rights, Qignuy
liberty of human personality.
Spread of Communism Explained
1 =; How is it possible that such a system, long
.ii- r?jSed scltifi^ally -d^- J-^ t^St
SSlSIJr^aKJ^SdlJ^^^^^
world? Th^^^plE^^tionJiesmt^^
h^^ iircr np- the removal oi tnc vei^
b) urging xnc ,.^j economic order, and
is pJesei world-wide economic cnsis to draw
12
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
into the sphere o£ his influence even those sections
ot the populace which on principle reject all forms
of matenahsm and terrorism. And as every error
^^^^■^l^^.^..*^! element of truth, the partial truths to
which We have referred are astutely presented ac-
cording to the needs of time and place, to conceal,
when convenient, the repulsive crudity and inhu-
manity of Communistic principles and tactics.
iiius the Communist ideal wins over many of the
better-minded members of the community. These
m turn, become the apostles of the movement
among the young-er intelligentsia who are still too
immature to recognize the intrinsic errors of the
system. The preachers of Communism are also
prohcient in _ exploiting racial antagonisms and
political divisions and oppositions. Thev take ad-
vantage of the lack of orientation characteristic of
modern agnostic science in order to burrow into
the universities, where they bolster up the principles
ot their doctrine with pseudo-scientific arguments.
16. If we would explain the blmd acceptance of
Com munism by so many thousands of workmen.
( j ) ^^^<^ niust remem j^er that the wav had been 'aWc ^cW
^prepared l or it l>v the reli.fflous and n^n ml H^.fif.;:
tion m which wage-ear ners had been lefH^Tl^h ^TTl
^^^^^™^^- Even on Sundays and holy d^^^^Tkb^
smirs were given no time to attend to their essential
religious duties. No one thought of building
churches withm convenient distance of factories
nor of facilitating the work of the priest. On the
contrary, laicism was actively and persistently pro-
moted, with the result that we are now reaping the
On Atheistic Communism
13
fruits of the errors so often denounced by Our
Predecessors and by Ourselves. Il can surprise no
one that the Communistic fallacy should be spread-
ing in a world already to a large extent de-Chns-
tianized,
17. There is another explanation for the rapid
diffusion of the Communistic ideas now seeping
into every nation, great and small, advanced and
backward, so that no corner of the earth is free
from them. This explanation is to be found m a
propaganda so truly diabolical that the world has
('^) perhaps never witnessed its like before. It is
dire cted from one common center. It is shrewdly
adapted to the varying conditions of diverse peo-
ples . It has at its disposal great financial resources,
gigantic organizations, international congresses,
and countless trained workers. It makes tise of
pamp hlets and reviews, of cinema, theater and
radio, of schools and even universities. Little by
little it penetrates into all classes of the people and
even reaches the better-minded groups of the com-
munity, with the result that few are aware of the
poison which increasingly pervades their mmds and
18. A third powerfid factor in the diffusion of \
Co mmunism is the conspiracy of silence on the part
o f a large section of the non-Catholic press of the I'
/n ^vorld. We say conspiracy, because it is impossible
' ^ rjtherwise to explain how a press usually so eager |
to exploi t even the little daily incidents of life has |^
I bee n abl^ to remain silent for so long about the i
mmma
14
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
On Atheistic Communism
15
»
I
horrors perpetrated in Russia, in Mexico and even
in a great part of Spain ; and that it should have
relatively so httle to say concerning a world organ-
ization as vast as Russian Communism. This sile nce
is due in part to short-sighted political policy, and
is favored by various occult forces whi ch for a
long time have been working for the o verthrow
of the Christian Social Order.
Sad Consequences
19. Meanwhile the sorry effects of this propa-
ganda are before our eyes. Where Communism has
been able to assert its power— and here We are
thinking with special affection of the people of
(m) Russia and Mexico — it has striven by every pos-
sible means, as its champions openly boast, to
destroy Christian civilization and the Christian
religion by banishing every remembrance of them
from the hearts of men, especially of the young.
Bishops and priests were exiled, condemned to
forced labor, shot and done to death in inhuman
fashion; laymen suspected of defending their re-
ligion were vexed, persecuted, dragged off to trial
and thrown into prison.
20. Even where the scourge of Communism has
/ ^not yet had time enough to exercise to the full its
in;iogicai effect, as witness Our beloved Spain, it has,
alas, found compensation in the fiercer violence of
its attack. Not only this or that church or isolated
monastery was sacked, but as far as possible every
church and every monastery was destroyed. Every
vestige of the Christian religion was eradicated,
even though intimately linked with the rarest
monuments of art and science. The fury of Com-
munism has not confined itself to the indiscriminate
slaughter of Bishops, of thousands of priests and
religious of both sexes; it searches out above all
those who have been devoting their lives to the
welfare of the working classes and the poor. But
the majority of its victims have been laymen of
all conditions and classes. Even up to the present
moment, masses of them are slain almost daily for
no other offense than the fact that they are good
Christians or at least opposed to atheistic Com-
munism. And this fearful destruction has been
carried out with a hatred and a savage barbarity
one would not have believed possible in our age.
No man o f good sense, nor any statesman conscious
of hi s responsibility can fail to shudder at the
( o ) thought that what is happening today in Spain may
per haps be repeated tomorrow in other civilized
co untries.
21. Nor can it be said that these atrocities are
.a transitory phenomenon, the usual accompaniment
^P)of all great revolutions, the isolated excesses com-
mon to every war. No, they are the natural fruit
of a sys tem which lacks all inner restraint. Some
restraint is necessary for man considered either as
an individual or in society. Even the barbaric peo-
ples had this inner check in the natural law written
by God in the heart of every man. And where this
natural law was held in higher esteem, ancient
nations rose to a grandeur that still fascmates—
more than it should — certain superficial students
16
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
of human history. But tear the very idea o£ God
from the hearts of men, and they are necessarily
urged by their passions to the most atrocious
barbarity.
22 This, unfortunately, is what we now behold,
hor the first time in history we are witnessing a
(q) struggle, cold-blooded in purpose and mapped out
to the least detail, between man and "all that is
called God. "^ Communism is by its nature anti-
religious. It considers religion as "the opiate of
the people" because the principles of religion which
speak of a life beyond the grave dissuade the prole-
tariat from the dream of a Soviet paradise which
13 of this world.
23. But the law of nature and its Author cannot
be flouted with impunity. Communism has not
been able, and will not be able, to achieve its objec-
tives even m the merely economic sphere. It is true
that m Russia it has been a contributing factor in
rousing men and materials from the inertia of cen-
turies, and in obtaining by all manner of means
often without scruple, some measure of material
success. Nevertheless We know from reliable and
even vary recent testimony that not even there, in
spite of slavery imposed on millions of men, has
Communism reached its promised goal After all
even the sphere of economics needs some morality
some moral sense of responsibility, which can find
no place in a system so thoroughly materialistic as
Communism. Terrorism is the only possible sub-
On Atheistic Communism
17
stitute, and it is terro rism that reigns today in
( i" ) Russia, where for
"mer
conara des in revolution are
exterminatmg each other. Terrorism, having failed
despite all to stem the tide of moral corruption,
cannot even prevent the dissolution of society itself.
Fatherly Concern for Oppressed Russians
24. In making these observations it is no part of
Our intention to condemn en masse the peoples of
the Soviet Union. For them We cherish the warm-
est paternal affection. We are well aware that not
a few of them groan beneath the yoke imposed on
them by men who in very large part are strangers
to the real interests of the country. We recognize
that many others were deceived by fallacious hopes.
We bl ame only the system, with its authors and
a bettors who considered Russia the best-prepared
s)tield for experimenting with a plan elaborated
decades ago, and who from there continue to spread
it from one end of the world to the other.
3 Cf. Thessaioniaiu, II, 4,
On Atheistic Communism
19
i
in
DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH IN
CONTRAST
25. We have exposed the errors and the violent,
deceptive tactics of bolshevistic and atheistic Com-
munism. It is now time, Venerable Brethren, to
contrast with it the true notion, ah-eady famiHar
to you, of the civitas hmnana or human society,
as taught by reason and Revelation through the
mouth of the church, Magistra Gentmm.
God the Supreme Reality
26. Above all other reality there exists one su-
preme Being: God, the omnipotent Creator of all
thmgs, the all-wise and just Judge of all men. This
supreme reality, God, is the absolute condemnation
(a) Qi the impudent falsehoods of Communiiim In
truth, it is not because men believe in God that He
exists; rather because He exists do all men whose
eyes are not deliberately closed to the truth beHeve
in Him and pray to Him.
Man and Family According to Reason
AND Faith
27. In the Encyclical on Christian Education^^
We explained the fundamental doctrine concern-
mg man as it may be gathered from reason and
(D^ Faith. Man has a spiritual and immortal soul. He
v4^?"?^'?n ^'""fLT''' ^^"9''^''^' Dec. 31, 1929 (A, A. S.. Vol
AAIi, XVjU, pp. 4U-0DJ.
18
is a person, marvelously endowed by his Creator
with eifts of body and mind. He is a true^ micro-
cosm" as the ancients said, a world m miniature,
with 'a value far surpassing that of the vast mam-
mate cosmos. God alone is his last end, m this
life and the next. By sanctifying grace he is raised
to the dignity of a son of God, and incorporated
into the Kingdom of God in the Mystical^ Body of
Christ. In consequence he has been endowed by
God wi th many and varied prerogatives : the right
(c)to life, to bodily integrity, to the necessary mean s
T^n^^d Et^cc; the right to tend toward his ultimate
e-oal in th e path marked out for hin Tby God; the
gg^tg^ iii^ation and the right to possess and use
property.
28 Tust as matrimony and the right to its nat-
ural use are of divine origin, so likewise are the
constitution and fundamental prerogatives of the
family fixed and determined by the Creator. In
the Encyclical on Christian Marriage" and m Our
other Encyclical on Education, cited above, we have
treated these topics at considerable length.
Nature of Society
29 But God has likewise destined man for civil
( d ) cn.i.K^li^W wT^th^ictates of his very natuFe.
linhr^ton)nhr&^SBr, society is a natural
means which man can and must use to reach his
destmedend. ^nriptvjs for man and not vice versa.
This must not be understood in the sense of hberal-
istic individualism, which subordinates society to
l^ycl Cu.'^ti Commbii, Dec. 31, 1930 (A. A. S., Vol. XXII,
1930, pp. 539-592).
MM
20
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
I
_the selfish use of the individual; but only in the
sense that by means of an organic union with
society and by mutual collaboration the attainment
of earthly happiness is placed within the reach of
all. In a further sense, it is society which affords
the opportunities for the development of all the
individual and social gifts bestowed on human na-
ture. These natui^al gifts have a vahie surpassing
the immediate interests of the momentj for in
society they reflect the divine perfection, which
would not be true were man to live alone. But on
final anal3^sis, even in this latter function, society
. V is made for man, that he may recognize this refiec-
^ ^'-^ tion of God's perfection, and refer it in praise and
adoration to the Creator. Only man, the human
person, and not society in any form, is endowed
with reason and a morally free w ill. ~ ~
30. Man cannot be exempted from his divinely-
imposed oblig-ations toward civil society, and the
representatives of authority have the right to co-
erce him when he refuses without reason to do his
duty. Society, on the other hand, cannot defraud
man of his God-gxanted rights, the most important
/£^ of which We have indicated above. Nor can society
"* systematically void these rights by making their
use impossible. It is, therefore, according to the
dictates of reason that ultimately all material things
should be ordained to man as a person, that through
his mediation they may find their way to the Cre-
ator. In this wise we can apply to man, the human
1- / Corinthians, III, 23.
On Atheistic Communism
21
#
person, the words of the Apostle of the Gentiles,
who writes to the Corinthians on the Christian
economy of salvation: "AU things are yours and
you are Christ's, and Christ is God^s." ^^ While
Communism impoverishes human personality by
inverting the terms of the relation of man to so-
ciety, to what lofty heights is man not elevated by
reason and Revelation!
3 1 . The directive principles concerning the
social-economic order have been expounded in the
social Encvclical of Leo XIII on the question of
labor '^•' Our own Encyclical on the Reconstruction
of the Social Order^^ adapted these principles to
present needs. Then, insisting anew on the age-old
doctrine of the Church concerning the individual
and social character ot'^private property, We ex^
^^^ plained clearly the right and dignity of labor, the
relations of mutual aid and collaboration which
shoul d exist between those who possess capital and
those who work, the salary due in stricTjT-^stice to
t he worker for himself and for his family.
32. In this same Encyclical of Ours We have
shown that the means of saving the world of today
. . from the lamentable ruin into which amora! liber-
(^) alism has plunged us, are neither the class-struggle
n or terror, nor yet the autocratic abuse of State
power, but rather the infusion of social justice and
iSEncycl. Renmi Novarum, May 15, 1S91 (Ada Leonis XJH, Vol.
^^l4f;c\3:^QLcf.«^.-.f>n. Anno, May 15, 1931 (A. A. S. Vol.
XXin. 1931, pp. 177-228).
22
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
the sentiment of Christian love into the soc ial-
economic order. We have indicated how a soun d
prosperity is to be restored according to the true
principles of a sane corporative system which
respects the proper hierarchic structure of society;
and how all the occupational groups should be fused
into a harmonious unity inspired by the principle
of the common good. And the .genuine and chief
function of pubUc and civil authority consists pre-
cisely in the efficacious furthering of this harmony
and coordination of all social forces.
33. In view of this organized common effort
towards peaceful living, Catholic doctrine vindi-
cates to the State the dignity and authoritv of a
vigilant and provident defender of those divine
and human rights on which the Sacred Scriptures
and the Fathers of the Church insist so often . It
..V is not true that all have equal rights in civil society.
^ ^ It is not true that there exists no lawful socia l
hierarchy. Let it suffice to refer to the KnrirrTirplc:
of Leo XIII already cited, especially to that on
State powers/^ and to the other on the Christian
Constitution of States.^^ In these documents the
Catholic will find the principles of reason and the
Faith clearly explained, and these principles will
enable him to defend himself against the errors
and perils of a Communistic conception of the
r "' ^?,'^^^:Jo9?'''^""™""' ^^^^*^' J""^ 20, 1881 (Acta Leonis XIlI, Vol.
",f?';^^J; ^"'"""-'"l^ Oei, Nov. 1, 1885 {Acta Leonis XIII Vol U
pp. 140-168). ■ •
On Atheistic Communism
State The enslavement of mra despoiled of his
rights, f>i- H---1 "^ tl.^ transcendental ongm of
^[^rs^^^an d its authorit y, the horrible abuse_Ql
U)^^uW^^17o^^'tT i n the service of a collectivistic ter-
;;^ri;^;^.re th e very contrar^f alUh atcorresponds
^^^mTl^^^HI Hr ethics and the w^I L^f the Creator.
B^ man and civil society derive theirongin from
the Creator, Who has mutually ordamed to, one
to the other. Hence neither can be exempted from
their correlative obligations, nor deny «; ^immish
each other's rights. The Creator Hmiself has reg-
ulated this mutual relationship m its fundanren al
hnes, and it is by an unjust usurpation that Com-
mun sm arrogates to itself the right to enforce n
place of the divine law based on the immutable
principles of truth and charity, a partisan political
JrogTam which derives from the arbitrary human
will and i? rc-|)lete with hate.
Beauty of Church Doctrine
34 In teaching this enlightening doctrine, the
Church has no other intention than to realize the
glad tidings sung by the Angels above the cave of
Bethlehem at the Redeemer's birth : Glory to God
and . . . peace to men "^' true peace and
true happiness, even here below as far as is possible,
in preparation for the happiness of heaven— but to
men of good will. This doctrine is equally removed
from all extremes of error and all exaggerations of
parties or systems which stem from error. It mam-
tains a constant equilibium of truth and justice.
JJ St. Luke, II, 14.
Ii|"
24
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
which it vindicates in theory and applies and pro-
motes in practice, bringing- into harmony the rights
and duties of all parties. Thus authority is recon-
ciled with liberty, the dignity of the individual with
that of the State, the human personahty of the
subject with the divine delegation of the superior;
and ni this way a balance is struck between the due
dependence and welhordered love of a man for him-
self, his family and country, and his love of other
families and other peoples, founded on the love of
God, the Father of all, their first principle and last
^^^■^^^ The Church does not separate a proper regard
for temporal welfare from solicitu de for the eter-
/ j. V ^^^^- ^^ she subordinates the former to the "latter
^ ^^ according to the words of her divine Fou nd^
''Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His jiistice^
and all these things sha ll lie added unto you/'^^ she
is, nevertheless, so far from being unconcerned with
human affairs, so far from hindering civ il progress
and material advancement, that she actually fosters"
and promotes them in the most sensible and eflica-
cious manner. Thus even in the sphere of social-
econoinics, although the Church has never proposed
a definite technical system, since this is not her
field,^ she has, nevertheless, clearly outhned the
guiding principles which, while susceptible of
varied concrete applications according to the diver-
sified conditions of times and places and peoples,
indicate the safe way of securing the happy prog-
ress of society.
■^^ St. Matthew, VI, 33,
On Atheistic Communism
25
35 The wisdom and supreme utiHty of this doc-
triie aie admitted by ah who really understand .
With eood reason outstanding statesmen have as
ertedTat, after a study of various social sgaris
they have found nothing sounder than the pi mciples
expounded in the Encyclicals RerumNovarnm and
pSragesimo Anno. In -n^Cathohc even m^^^^^^
Christian countries, men recognize ^^e ^leat va^^^^
to society of the social doctrme of the ^huich
Thus scarcely a month ago, an eminent politica
iTrt of thenar East, a nonXhristian, chd not
Sate o affirm publicly that the Church, with her
Etrine of peace and Christian ^^-%^^^^^^^^^
rendering a signal contribution to the ^li ^ih ^
of establishing and mamtainmg l^'^^l,^'^^^^^
nations. Finally, We know from ^^hable m.^^^^^^^^
tion that flows into this Center ot Chnstenclom
fom all parts of the world, that the Communists
themselves, where they are not utter y depraved
rSogr le he superiority of the social doctrine of
the Church, when once explained to them, over the
doctrines o their leaders and their teachers.^ Only
thSe blinded by passion and hatred close heir eye
to the light of truth and obstinately struggle against
it.
Alleged Conflict Between Doctrine
AND Practice
36. But the enemies of the Church, thougF
forced to acknowledge the wisdom of her doctrine,
accuse her of having failed to act in conformity
with her principles, and from this conclude to the
necessity of seeking other solutions. The utter
?Ssen£ and injustice of this accusation is shown
m
26
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
by the whole history of Christianity. To refer only
to a sing-le typical trait, it was Christianity that
first affirmed the real and universal brotherhood of
all men of whatever race and condition. This doc-
trine _ she proclaimed by a method, and with an
amplitude and conviction, unknown to preceding-
centuries; and with it she potently contributed to
the abolition of slavery. Not bloody revolution,
but the inner force of her teaching made the proud
Roman matron see in her slave a sister in Christ.
It IS Christianity that adores the Son of God, made
Man for love of man, and become not only the
"Son of a Carpenter" but Himself a "Carpenter."^*
It was^ Christianity that raised manual labor to its
true dignity, whereas it had hitherto been so de-
spised that even the moderate Cicero did not hesi-
tate to sum up the general opinion of his time in
words of which any modern sociologist would be
ashamed: "All artisans are engaged in sordid
trades, for there can be nothing ennobling about a
workshop."^^
37. Faithful to these principles, the Church has
given new life to human society. Under her influ-
ence arose prodigious charitable organizations,
great guilds of artisans and workingmen of every
type. These guilds, ridiculed as "medieval" by the
liberalism of the last century, are today claiming
the admiration of our contemporaries in many
countries who are endeavoring to revive them in
some modern form. And when other systems hind-
ered her work and raised obstacles to the salutary
1
On Atheistic Communism
27
influence of the Churck, she was y^^;" /o^e ™^
ing them of their error. We need but '"ecall w^th
what constant firmness and energy Our Predet.es
Tor I eo XIII, vindicated for the workmgman the
riL^ht to organize, which the dominant hberalism
of the more powerful States relentlessly denied
h m Even todLy the authority of this Church doc-
tr ne is\reater than it seems; for the influence of
deas in ?he realm of facts, though invisible and not
eaSly measured, is surely of predominant impor-
tancc.
38 It mr.y be said in all truth that the_ Church
like C'uist, eoes through the centuries doing good
to all The e would be today neither Socialism nor
Communism if the rulers of the "^tions had not
scorned the teachings and maternal warning of the
Church. On the bases of liberalism and laicism
thev wished to build other social edihces which,
powerful and imposing as they seemed at first, all
loo soon revealed the weakness of their founda-
tions, and today are crumbling one after another
before our eyes, as everything must crumble that
is not grounded on the one corner stone which is
Christ Jesus.
19 Cf . St. Maithew, XIII, 55 ; St. Mark VI 3
2" Cicero, De Officiis, Bk, I, c. 42.
IV
DEFENSIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE
PROGRAM
Urgent Need for Action
•
39 This, Venerable Brethren,, is the doctrine of
the Church, which alone in the social as in all other
fields can offer real lig:ht and assure salvation in
the face of Communistic ideolop- ^-^ ^-i-- -^-
trine must be consistently
every-day life.
(a)
■ation in
...^.jgy. Exit this doc-
. „ ..^...w..._v reduced to practice in
every-day life, according- to the admonition of St
James the Apostle: "Be ye doers of the word and
not hearers only, deceiving 3^our own selves. "^^ The
most urgent need of the present day is therefor i
the^ energetic and timely appl ication of remedies
which will effectively v/ard off the catastrophe th,-^t
daily grows more threatening. We cherish the firm
hope that the fanaticism with which the sons of
darkness work day and night at their materialistic
and atheistic propaganda will at least serve the holy
he sons of light to a like and
the honor of the Divine
purpose of stimulating the sons of
even greater zeal for '
Majesty.
40. What then must be done, what
must be employed to defend Christ and Christian
civilization from this ' '
remedies
. . Chris
civilization from this pernicious enemy '^ A
father in the midst of his family, We should like
to speak quite mtimately of those duties which the
great struggle of our day imposes on all the chil-
31
St. James, I, 22.
On Atheistic Communism
29
f +V.. Church- and We would address Our
*;°r„°a.ad™Son'e"„ to thos. so» who ha,.
Strayed far from her.
Renewal ov Christian Life
41 As m all the stormy periods of th^ histoiT
of the Church, thyundHnentaU™!^^
gviSlSiuHifU^^ human
society from total corruption.
42 With heart deeply grateful to the Father
SLtry"°L«\t?e>etted°,0 .he suh.i™
fr "i™" ial bu'f .n the ».« "--^
nf a deep and practical piety m all classes oi socieiy
eienth? most cultured, as m pointed out m Our
Tecent Motu Propno In midUs solams of Octobei
28 lastfon the occasion of the recn-ganization of the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences.-
43 Nevertheless We cannot deny that there is
still much to be done in the way of spiritual leno-
fation Even in Catholic countries there are still
lo "many who are CathoUcs hardly more than in
name. There are too many who fulfill more or
28
Si'iTVot XXVIII (»36); pp. 421-424.
30
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
less faithfully the more essential obligations of the
religion they boast of professing, but have no desire
of knowing it better, of deepening their inward
conviction^ and still less of bringing into conform-
ity with the external gloss the inner splendor of a
right and unsullied conscience, that recognizes and
performs all its duties under the eye of God. We
know how much Our Divine Saviour detested this
empty pharisaic show, He Who wished that all
should adore the Father "in spirit and in truth "^^
The Catholic who does not live really and sin cerely
accordmg to the Faith he professes will not lo ng be
. master of himself in these days when the winds of
1^) strife and persecution blow so fiercely, but will be
swept away defenseless in this new deluge which
threatens the world. And thus, while he is prepar-
ing his own ruin, he is exposing to ridicule the very
name of Christian.
44. And here We Wish, Venerable Brethren, to
insist more particularly on two teach ings of Our
/^\ Lord which have a special bearing on the present
^ condition of the human race: detachment from
earthly goods and the precept of charity . "Blessed
are the poor in spirit" were the first words that fell
from the lips of the Divine Master in His sermon
on the mount.^^ This lesson is more than ever
necessary in these days of materialism athirst for
the goods and pleasures of this earth. All Chris-
tians, rich or poor, must keep their eye fixed on
2* St. John, IV, 23.
25 St. Matthew, V, 3.
On Atheistic Communism
heaven, remembering that "we have "Ot Jjer^„f,
i^^^Fih^i^rT^is^^
^^^^^f^:^ of their earthly goods, let them be
against the last days. . . . "*^
4S But the poorjoojr^theirjurn, wM^ en-
o-aeed^E^^fdh^g^^ThTk^r^^^harty and justice,
^f ^fn acQuiring the necessities of life and also m bet-
^*^ ermg ^condition, skmlialway^emam^
in spirit."^^ and hold spiritual goods m higher
iil^^^^Hhan earthly property and pleasures. Let
Sem remember that the world will never be able
26 Hebeews, XIII, 14.
27 St. Luke, XI, 41
28 St. James, V, 1-3,
29 St. Matthew, V, 3.
32
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
to rid itself of misery, sorrow and tribulation,
which are the portion even of those who seem most
prosperous. Patience, therefore, is the need of all,
that Christian patience which comforts the heart
with the divine assurance of eternal happiness. "Be
patient, therefore, brethren," we repeat with St.
James, "until the coming of the Lord. Behold the
husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the
earth, patiently bearing- until he receive the early
and the later rain. Be you therefore also patient
and strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the
Lord IS at hand.''^^ Only thus will be fulfilled the
consoling promise of the Lord: "Blessed are the
poor!" These words are no vain consolation, a
promise as empty as those of the Communists.
They are the words of life, pregnant with a sover-
eign reality. They are fully verified here on
earth, as well as in eternity. Lidced, how many of
the poor, m anticipation of the ICingdom of Heaven
already proclaimed their own: "for yours Is the
Kmgdom of Heaven,"3i find in these words a hap-
piness which so many of the wealthy, uneasv with
their riches and ever thirsting for more, look for in
vain!
46. Still more important as a remedy for the evil
we are considering, or certainly more directlv cal-
culated to cure it, is the precept of charity ' We
^^''^'s'i'TV^'^^ Christian charity, "patient and
kind, which avoids all semblance of demeanino-
paternahsm, and all ostentation : that charitv which
from the very beginning of Christianitv won to
On Atheistic Communism
33
(g)
^0 St. James, V, 7 8
31 St. Luke, VI, 30.
32 / Corinthians, XIII, 4.
Christ the poorest of the poor, the ^If^^^ ^nd
We are grateful to all those "lembers of char^ta^e
associations, from the conferences of St VinceiiL de
Paul to the decent great relief -organizations, which
are nerseveringly practicing the spiritual and cor^
Sral works' of^Lrcy. The more the workmgmen
?nd thl poor reaUze what the spirit of love am-
mated by the virtue of Christ is doing for them,
n^^ more readily will they abandon the false per-
suasion that ^Hstianity has lost its efficacy and
SSat the Church stands on the side of the exploiters
of their labor.
47 But when on the one hand We see thousands
of the needy, victims of real misery for various
reasons beyond their control, and on the other so
many round about them who spend huge sums of
money on useless things and frivolous amusement,
We cannot fail toremarl^^Aathjorrow^^
i^^^T^^iOAm^mlinil^^
V^^^^^^^^biTBTilKF^iTtt^ divine Precept thjs
nrecious mark of identification left by Christ to
His true d sciples, be ever more fully exphuned by
pen and word of mouth; this precept which teaches
S to see in those who -f "' Ch"^\H^"Jf S^.^fe
would have us love our brothers as Oui Divme
Savour has loved us, that is. even at the sacnfice
of ourselves, and, if need be, of our very hfe Let
all then frequently meditate on those words of he
final sentence, so consoling yet so ternfymg, which
the Supreme Judge will pronounce on the day ot
the Last Judgment: "Come, ye blessed of my
34
Encyclical of Pope Pius XT
On Atheistic Communism
35
Father ... for I was hungry and you gave me to
eat; 1 was thirsty and you g-ave me to drink . . .
Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it to one
o± these my least brethren you did it to me "^^
And the reverse: "Depart from me, you cursed,
mto everlasting fire . . . for I was hungrv and
you gave me not to eat; I was thirsty and you gave
me not to drmk . . . Amen, I say to you, as long
as you did It not to one of these least, neither did
you do It tome."^*
48 To be sure of eternal hfe, therefore, and to
be able to help the poor effectively, it is imperative
to return to a more moderate way of life to re-
nounce the joys, often sinful, which the world today
holds out m such abundance; to forget self for love
of the_ neighbor. There is a divine regeneratine:
force m this "new precept" (as Christ called it)
ot Christian charity.^^ j^g faithful observance will
pour into the heart an inner peace which the world
knows not, and will finally cure the ills which op-
press humanity,
(h). ^^' -^^^^ charity will never be true charitv unl ess
It takes justice into constant account. The ^nosT?^
teaches that ;;he that loveth his neighbor hath ful-
hiled the law and he gives the reason: "For Thou
Shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill
Ihou Shalt not steal . . , and if there be anv other
commandment, it is comprised in this word: Thou
sfialt love thy neighbor as thyself/' ^^ Accordine*
^Q ^^^ Apostle, then, all the commandments, in
33 St. Matthew, XXV, 34-40
^^St. Matthew, XXV 41-45
35 St. John, XIII, 34.
36 Romans, XIII, 8 9
(i
eluding those which are of strict justice, as those
SS^forbid us to kill or to steal, may be red^^^f^
to the single precept of true chanty. Fiom this
t follows tiaat'a "charity" which deprives the wo k^
ineraan of the salary to which he has a strict title
in See IS not charity at all, but only its empty
name and hollow semblance. The wage-earner is
not to receive as alms what is his due in justice.
And let no one attempt with trifling charitable do-
natk>ns to exempt himself from the great duties im-
posed by justice. Both justice and chanty often
dktate Ob igations touching on the same subject-
natte? but under different aspects; and the very
3 gnhy of the workingman makes him justly and
acutely sensitive to the duties of others in his
regard.
50 The refore We turn again in a special way to
you, r-i..;,f;.r ^Tinlovers and industrialists, w h o se
^i^^^KwTirg te^i^difficult fo r the reason that
>^r^p^7I-7^:gUT^t>, the heavv heritage of an
TH^T^ TTi^^^^nic regime whose ruinou sjnfluence
h.^ J^Pen felt through many jeierations. We bid
you be mindful of your responsiDihty. I* is^f;
fortunately true that the manner ^l^^^'^g^
certain Catholic circles has done much to shake
the faith of the working-classes m the religion of
Tesus Christ. These groups have ref:.ised to imder-
stand that Christian charity demands the recogni-
tion of certain rights due to. the wurkmgnian,
which the Church has explicitly acknowledged.
What is to be thought of the action of those Cath-
olic employers who in one place succeeded m pre-
venting the reading of Our Encyclical Quadrages-
36
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
On Atheistic Communism
37
imo Anno in their local churches? Or of those
Catholic Industrialists who even to this day have
shown themselves hostile to a labor movement that
We Ourselves recommended? Is it not deplorable
that the right of private property defended by the
Church should so often have been used as a weapon
to defraud the workingnian of his just salary and
his social rights?
■51- In reality, besides commutative justice, there
is also social justice with its own set obligatio ns,
.■. from which neither employers nor workjngmen
^^^ escape. Now it is of the very essence of social
justice to demand from each individual all thaFl s
necessary for the common g-pod. But just as in the
hving org:anism it is impossible to provide for the
good of the whole unless each single part and each
individual member is given what it needs for the
exercise of its proper functions, so it is impossible
to care for the social organism and the good of
society as a unit unless each single part and each
individual member— that is to say, each individual
man in the dignity of his human personaUtv— is
supplied with all that is necessary for the exercise
of his social functions. If social justice be satisfied,
f] \ ^'^^ ^^sult will be an intense activity in economic
^ "^/ iife as a whole., pursued in tranquility and order.
This activity will be proof of the health of the
social body, just as the health of the human body i&
recognized in the imdisturbed regularity and per-
fect efficiency of the whole organism,
52. But social justice cannot be said t o have
been satisfied as long as workingmen are denied a
salary that w illenable them to secure_pr ope£_suS:
ion^ as they ^F^^d^Skdl^^
hi^TT^^Sd^in^^t^^^
b^^:fri^icn^;o^;^^
, , ^ ^^fh^r^i^b^i^iinhe^^
^^^dTh^^^?iiat^^^
?u?rTh^i^i^od£|h^^
;^i^i^Siii^Kd7i^^^
j^^i^^T^tohi^h^^
"3'
drance but is of singular help to virtue
53 It happens all too frequently, however, un-
der the sali -y system., that individual employers
a?e helpless to ensure justice unless, with a view to
ft? Sice they organize institutions the object
of S is'toVevJnt competition ™Pf;be
with fair treatment for the workers. Where this
Ttrue it isth^dutyolcontractOTs_a^^
to suppH^Hi^iO^il^^
^T^yd. Quadragcdmo Anno. May 15, 1931 (A. A. S., Vol,
XXT.TI, 1931, p. 202).
38
fill
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
On Atheistic Communism
39
their obligations of justice. But the laborers
, too must be mindful of their duty to love and deal
("^/ fairly with their employers, and persuade theirT
selves that there is no better means of safeguarding
their own intere sts.
54. If, therefore, We consider the whole struc-
ture of economic life, as We have already pointed
out in Our Encyclical Qaadragesimo Anno, the
reign of mutual collaboration between justice and
charity in social-economic relations can only be
achieved by a body of professional and interpro-
fessional organizations, built on solidly Christian
foundations, working together to effect, under
forms adapted to different places and circum-
stances, what has been called the Corporation,
Social Study and Propaganda
55. To give to this social activity a greater effi-
cacy, it is necessary to promote a wider study of
social problems in the light of the doctrine of the
Church and under the aegis of her constituted
authority. If the manner of acting of some Cath-
olics in the social-economic field has left much to
be desired, this has often come about because they
have _ not known and pondered sufficiently the
teachings of the Sovereign Pontiffs on these' ques-
tions. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance
to foster in all classes of society an intensive pro-
(n) gram of social education adapted to the varying
degrees of intellectual culture. It is necessary with
ah care and diligence to procure the widest possible
diffusion of the teachings of the Church, even
among the working-classes. The minds of men
i.iust be illuminated with the sure hght of Catholic
teaching an^ their wills must be drawn to follow
and Sy ^t as the norm of right hymg m the
SnsSLi^ fumilment of their mamf^^^^^^^^^^^
Sioryet S the field of labor and industry m
£ liof eJsions, trade and business perm.t a deplor^
pHp cleavase in their conscience, and live a liie too
Ut e h'Sormity with the dear principles of
ustke and Christian chanty. Such hves aie a
scandal to the weak, and to the mahcious a pre-
text to discredit the Church.
56 In this renewaUh£^£tholic_Pres^^^
good faith.
Distrust of Communist Tactics
40
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
On Atheistic Communism
41
In the beginning Communism showed itself for
what It was in all its perversHy; but very soon it
IP /realized that it was thus alienating the people It
has therefore changed its tactics, and strives to
^?iH!Llh5J™ltitudi^T^^
hidmg Its real desJP ns behind ideas that in them -
selves ar e good and attractive. Thus, aware of the
universal desire for peace, the leaders of Com-
munism pretend to be the most zealous promoters
and propagandists in the movement for world
amity. Yet at the same time they stir up a class^
warfare which causes rivers of blood to flow and
realizing that their system offers no internal guar-
antee of peace, they have recourse to unlimited
a maments. Under various names which do not
suggest Communism, they establish organizations
and periodicals with the sole purpose of carrying
their ideas mto quarters otherwise inaccessible
Ihey tr y perfadiously to worm thetr wav ^...^ into
i^ggjJL_g2tt2ou^ r eceding an mch from their sub-
, .^^^^"^^i^^^^J^Ilil^M^^^ibeyjn^^
( ^ ) ^Slej;^:ithjhemjnJ^^7^
i^tn^m^!a^M_£haritvr^^^^
H2P2g^h ^-at are in perfect jiarmnn^^^^ th^
Elsewhere they carry their hypocrisy- li^liTTTT^
XrT -/^ ^'\''^ ^''"* Communism, in countri s
where faith and culture are more strongly en-
renched, wi assume another and much milder
101 m. U will not mteriere with the practice of
religion. It will respect liberty of conscience
There are some even who refer to certain changes
recently introduced into soviet legislation as a proof
that Communism is about to abandon its program
of war against God.
58. See to it, Venerable Brethren, that the Faith-
ful do not allow themselves to be deceived! Com-
munism is intrinsically wrong, and no one who
. would save Christian civilization may collaborate
(^) with it in any undertaking whatsoever. Those who
];)ermit themselves to be deceived into lending then-
aid towards the triumph of Coramunisni in their
own country, will be the first to fall victims of
their error. And the greater the antiquity and
grandeur of the Christian civilization in the regions
where Communism successfully penetrates, so
much more devastating will be the hatred displayed
by the godless.
Prayer and Penance
59. But ''unless the Lord keep the city, he
watcheth in vain that keepeth it."^^ And so, as a
final and most efficacious remedy, We recommend,
Venerable Brethren, that in your dioceses you use
the most practical means to foster and intensify
the spirit of prayer joined with Christian penance.
When the Apostles asked the Saviour why the}^ had
been unable to drive the evil spirit from a demon--
iac, Our Lord answered: "This kind is not cast out
but by prayer and fasting."^^ So, too, the evil
^Yhich toflay torments humanity can be conquered
(^)Qnly by a world-wide holy crusade of pra3^er and
3S Psalms, CXXVI, 1.
39 St. Matthew, XVII, 20.
42
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
We
penance, we ask especially the Contemplative
Orders, men and women, to redouble their prayers
and sacrifices to obtain from heaven efficacious aid
for the Church in the present struggle. Let them
implore also the powerful intercession of the Im-
maculate Virgin who, having crushed the head of
the serpent of old, remains the sure protectress and
invincible ''Help of Christians."
V
MINISTERS AND CO-WORKERS IN
CATHOLIC SOCIAL ACTION
Priests
60. To apply the remedies thus briefly indicated
to the task of saving the world as We have traced
it above, Jesus Christ, our Divine King, has chosen
priests as the first-line ministers and messengers oi
His gospel. Theirs is the duty, assigned to them by
a special vocation, under the direction of then-
Bishops and in filial obedience to the Vicar of
Christ on earth, of keeping alight in the world the
torch of Faith, and of filling the hearts of the
Faithful with that supernatural trust which has
aided the Church to fight and win so many other
battks in the name of Christ: "This is the victorj^
which overcometh the world, our Faith/'***^
61. To priests in a special way We recommend
anew the oft-repeated counsel of Our Predecessor,
(^) Leo XIII. to go to the workingman. We make this
advice Our own, and faithful to the teachings of
Jesus Christ and His Church, We thus complete
it: "Go to the workingman, especially where he is
poor; and in general, go to the poor." The pom-
are obviouslv more exposed than others to the
wiles of agitators, who, taking advantage of their
extreme need, kindle their hearts to envy of the
rich and urge them to seize by force what fortune
seems to have denied them unjustly. If the priest
*o I Epist. St, John, V, 4,
43
44
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
On Atheistic Communism
45
will not go to the workingman and to the poor, to
warn them or to disabuse them of prejudice and
false theory, they will become an easy prev for the
apostles of Communism.
62. Indisputably much has been done in this
direction, especially after the publication of the
Encyclicals Rer^im Novariim and Quadragesimo
Anno. We are happy to voice Our paternal ap-
proval of the zealous pastoral activity manifested
by so many Bishops and priests who have, with due
prudence and caution, been planning and applying
new methods of apostolate more adapted to mod-
ern needs. But for the solution of our present
problem, all this effort is still inadequate. When
our country is in danger, everything not strictly
/ ^ \ necessary, everything not bearing; directly on the
urgent matter of unified defense, takes second
place. So we must act in today's crisis. Every
other enterprise, however attractive and helpful.
must yield before the vital need of protecting the
very foundation of the Faith and of Christian civil-
ization. Let our parish priests, therefore, while
providing, of course, for the normal needs of the
Faithful, dedicate the better part of their endeavors
and their zeal to winning back the laboring masses
to Christ and to His Church. Let them work to
infuse the Christian spirit into quarters w^here it is
least at home. The willing response of the masses,
and results far exceeding their expectations, will
not fail to reward them for their strenuous pioneer
labor. This has been and continues to be our ex-
perience in Rome and in other capitals, w^here zea)^
I
ous parish communities are being formed as new
churches are built in the suburban districts, and
real miracles are being worked in the conversion of
people w^hose hostility to religion has been due sole-
ly to the fact that they did not know it.
6Z. But the most efficacious means of apostolate
among the poor and lowly is the priest's example,
the practice of all those sacerdotal virtues which
We have described in Our Encychcal Ad Catholici
Sacerdotii.'^'^ Especially needful, however, for the
present situation is the shining example of a life
which is humble, poor and disinterested, in imita-
tion of a Divine Master Who could say to the
world with divine simplicity: "The foxes have holes
i and the birds of the air nests, but the Son of Man
hath not where to lay His head." *" A priest who
, V is really poor and disinterested in the Gospel sense
^ ^ may work among his flock marvels recalling a
Saint Vincent de Paul, a Cure of Ars, a Cottolengo,
a Don Bosco and so many others ; while an avari-
cious and selfish priest, as Wehaye noted i^ the
above-mentioned Encyclical, even though he
should not plunge wdth Judas to the abyss of trea-
son, will never be more than empty "sounding
brass'' and useless "tinkling cymbal. " ^^ Too often,
indeed, he will be a hindrance rather than an instru-
ment of grace in the midst of his people, Further-
more, where a secular priest or religious is obliged
by his office to administer temporal property, let
«Dec. 20, 1935; A. A. S.. Vol. XXVIII (1936), pp, 5-53.
^^ St. Ad:ATTHEw, VTH. 20.
■^^ T Corinthians, XIIT, 1.
46
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
On Atheistic Communism
47
him remember that he is not only to observe scrup-
ulously all that charity and justice prescribe, but
that he has a special obligation to conduct himself
m very truth as a father of the poor.
Catholic Action
64. After this appeal to the clergy, We extend
Our paternal invitation to Our beloved sons among
i^) the laity who are doin.£y battle i n the ranks of Cath -
olic Action, On another occasion *■* We have called
this movement so dear to Our heart "a particularly
providential assistance" in the work of the Church
durmg: these troublous times. Catholic Action is
m effect a social apostolate also, inasmuch as its
object is to spread the Kingdom of Jesus Christ not
only among individuals, but also in families and in
society . It must, therefore, make it a chief aim to
train its members with special care and to prepare
them to fight the battles of the Lord. This task of
formation, now more urgent and indispensable than
ever, which must alwa_ys precede direct action in
the field, will assuredly be served by study-circles,
conferences, lecture-courses and the various other
activities undertaken with a view to making- known
the Christian solution of the social probleuL
65. The miUtant leaders of Catholic Action,
thus properly prepared and armed, will be the first
and immediate apostles of their fellow workmen.
They will be an invaluable aid to the priest in
carrying the torch of truth, and in relieving grave
spiritual and material suffering, m many sectors
where inveterate anti-clerical prejudice or deplor-
able religious indifference has proved a constant
obstacle to the pastoral activity of God s mmisters.
In this way they will collaborate, under the direc^
tion of especially qualified priests, m that work ot
spiritual aid to the laboring classes on wnich V\e
set so much store, because it is the means best cal-
culated to save these, Our beloved children, from
the snares of Communism-
66 In addition to this individual apostolate
which however useful and efScacious, often goes
unheralded, Catholic Action must organize propa -
ganda on a larj^e scale to disseminate knowledge of
l(^) the fundamental principles on wh ich, according to
the Pontifical documents, a Christian Social Order
must build,
Auxiliary Organizations
-"May 12, 1936.
67 Ranged with Catholic Action are the groups
which We have been happy to call its auxiliary
forces With paternal affection We exhort these
valuable organizations also to dedicate themselves
to the great mission of which We have been treat-
ing, a ^cause which today transcends all others m
vital importance.
Homogeneous Groups
68 We are thinking, likewise, of those associa-
tions of workmen, farmers, technicians, doctors,
employers, students and others of like character,
o-roups of men and women who live m the same
cultural atmosphere and share the same way of life.
Precisely these groups and organizations are des-
48
Encyxlical of Pope Pius XI
tilled to introduce into society that order which
We have envisaged in Our EncycHcal Qitadrages-
imo Anno, and thus to spread in the vast and vari-
ous fields of culture and labor the recognition of
the Kingdom of Christ.
69. Even where the State, because of chang-ed
social and economic conditions, has felt obliged to
intervene directly in order to aid and regulate such
organizations by special legislative enactments, sup-
posing always the necessary respect for liberty and
private initiative, Catholic Action may not urge
the circumstance as an excuse for abandoning the
field. Its members should contribute prudently
and intelligently to the study of the problems of
the hour in the light of Catholic doctrine. They
should loyally and generously participate in the
formation of the new institutions, bringing to
them the Christian spirit which is the basic prin-
ciple of order wherever men work together in fra-
ternal harmony.
Appeal to Catholic Workers
70. Here We should like to address a particularly
affectionate word to Our Catholic workingmen,
young and old. They have been given, perhaps as
a reward for their often heroic fidelity in these
trying days, a noble and an arduous mission. Un-
der the guidance of their Bishops and priests, they
are to bring back to the Church and to God those
immense multitudes of their brother-workmen
who, because they were not understood or treated
with the respect to which they were entitled, in
bitterness have strayed far from God. Pet Cath-
olic workingmen show these, their wandering breth-
I
On Atheistic CoM^tuMis^r
49
ren, by word and example that the Church is a
tender Mother to all those who labor and suiXer,
(j^/ and that she has never failed, and never will fail,
in her sacred maternal duty of protecting her chil-
dren. If this mission, which must be fulfilled in
mines, in factories, in shops, wherever they may be
laboring, should at times require great sacrifices,
Our workmen will remember that the Saviour of
the world has given them an example, not only to
toil, but of self-immolation.
Need of Unity Among Catholics
71. To all Our children, finally, of every social
rank and every nation, to every religious and lay
oi-ganization in the Church, We make another and
more urgent appeal for union. Many times Our
, V paternal heart has been saddened by the divergen-
'"'^ cies — often idle in their causes, always tragic in
their consequences — which array in opposing
camps the sons of the same Mother Church. Thus
it is that the radicals, who arc not so very numer-
ous, profiting by this discord are able to make it
more acute, and end by pitting Catholics one against
the other. In view of the events of the past few
months, Our warning must seem superfluous. \¥e
repeat it, nevertheless, once more, for those who
have not understood, or perhaps do not desire lo
understand. Those who make a practice of spread-
ing dissension among Catholics assume ;i Icn ililc
responsibility before God and the Cliurcli.
Invitation to Aij. Br:jjKVi-:Ks
72. But in this l>attle joined by the powers of
50
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
I
darkness a.£^aiiist the very idea of Divinity, it is
Our fond hope that, besides the host which glories
/u\ ^ti the name of Christ, all those — and they comprise
^ f the overwhelming- majority of mankind — who still
believe in God and pay Plim homage may take a
decisive part._ We, therefore, renew the invitation
extended to them five years ago in Our Encyclical,
Caritate Christi, invoking their loyal and hearty
collaboration "in order to ward off from mankind
the great danger that threatens all alike." Since,
as We then said, **belief in God is the unshakable
foundation of all social order and of all responsibil-
ity on earth, it follows that all those who do not
want anarch^'- and terrorism ought to take ener-
getic steps to prevent the enemies of religion from
attaining the goal they have so brazenly proclaimed
to the world/' ^^
Duties of the Christian State
7Z. Such is the positive task, embracing at once
theory and practice, which the Church undertakes
in virtue of the mission, confided to her by Christ,
V/ of constructing a Christian society, and, in our
own times, of resisting unto victory the attacks of
Communism. It is the duty of the Christian State
to concur actively in this spiritual enterprise of the
Church, aiding her with the means at its command,
which although they be external devices, have none-
theless for their prime object the good of souls.
\
/<
On Atheistic Communism
51
<i)
74. This means that all diligence should be exer-
cised by States to prevent within their territories
the ravages of an anti-God campaign which shakes
society to its very foundations. For there can be
no authority on earth unless the authority of the
Divine Majesty be recognized; no oath will bind
which is not sworn in the Name of the Living God.
We repeat that We have said with frequent in-
sistence in the past, especially in Our Encyclical,
Caritate Christi: ''How can any contract be main-
tained, and what value can any treaty have, in
which every guarantee of conscience is lacking?
And how can there be talk of guarantees of con-
science when all faith in God and all fear of God
have vanished? Take away this basis, and with it
all moral law falls, and there is no remedy left to
stop the gradual but inevitable destruction of
peoples, families, the State, civilization itself." ^^
75. It must likewise be the special care of the
State to create those material conditions of life
\^^) without which an orderly society cannot exist.
The State must take every measure necessary to
supply employment, particularly for the heads of
families and for the young. To achieve this end
demanded by the pressing needs of the common
v\^elfare, the wealthy classes nmst be induced to
assume those burdens without which human society
cannot be saved nor they themselves remain secure.
However, measures taken by the State with lliis
end in view ought to be of such a iialnrt^ [li.-i( they
-iSEncycl. Caritate Christi, M:iY 3, 1032 (A. A. S., Vol. XXIV,
p. 184).
*«Encvd, Ccirikile Christi, Mav ^, ]<).V2 (A. A. S,
1932, v~ I'^O).
Vol XXIV,
52
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
I
Ok Atheistic Communism
53
will really affect those who actually possess more
than their share of capital resources, and who con-
tinue to accumulate them to the grievous detriment
of others.
76. The State itself, mindful of its responsibility
before God and society, should be a model of pru-
dence and sobriety in the administration of the
commonwealth. Toda_Y more than ever the acute
world crisis demands that those who dispose of im-
mense funds, built up on the sweat and toil of mil-
hons, keep constantly and singly in mind the com-
mon good. State functionaries and all employes
are obliged in conscience to perform their duties
faithfully and unselfishly, imitating tlie brilliant
example of distinguished men of the past and of
our own day, who, with unremitting labor, sacri-
iiced their all for t he good of their country. In inter-
national trade-relations let all means be sedulously
employed for the removal of those artificial bar-
riers to economic life which are the effects of dis-
trust and hatred. All must remember that the
peoples of the earth form but one family in God.
77. At the same time theState nmst allow the
Church full liberty to fulfill her divine and spirit-
/^^\ ual mission, and this in itself will be an effectual
contribution to the rescue of nations from the
dread torment of the present hour. Everywhere
today there is an anxious appeal to moral and spirit-
ual forces; and rightly so, for the evil we must
combat is at its origin primarily an evil of the
(1)
]
spiritual order. From this polluted source the
monstrous emanations of the communistic system
flow with Satanic logic. Now, the Catholic Church
is undoubtedly pre-eminent among the moral and
religious forces of today. Therefore the very good
of humanity demands that her work be allowed to
proceed unhindered.
78. Those who act otherwise, and at the same
time fondly pretend to attain their objective with
purely political or economic means, are in the grip
of a dangerous error. When religion is banished
from the school, from education and from public
life, when the representatives of Christianity and
its sacred rites are held up to ridicule, are we not
really fostering the materialism which is the fertile
soil of Communism? Neither force, however well
organized it be, nor earthly ideals however lofty or
noble, can control a movement whose roots lie in
the excessive esteem for the goods of this world.
79. We trust that those rulers of nations, who
are at all aware of the extreme danger threatening
every people today, may be more and more con-
vinced of their supreme duty not to hinder the
Church in^ the fulfillment of her mission. This is
the more imperative since^ while this mission has
in view man's happiness in heaven, it cannot but
promote his true felicity in time.
The Erring Recalled
80. We cannot conclude this Encyclical Letter
(n) without addressing some words to those of Our
children who are more or less tainted with the (^)m-
niunist plague. We earnestly exhort them to hear
54
Encyclical of Pofe Pius XI
i
the voice of their loving Father, We pray the Lord
to enhghten them that the)-- may abandon the sUp-
fiery path which will precipitate one and all to ruin
and catastrophe, and that they recognize that Jesus
Christ, Our Lord, is their only Saviour : "For there
is no other name under heaven given to man where-
by we must be saved." ^"^
CONCLUSION
Saint Joseph, Model and Patron
81. To hasten the advent of that "peace of
Christ in the kingdom of Christ'"*^ so ardently
desired by all, We place the vast campaign of the
Church against world Communism under the
standard of St. Joseph, her mighty Protector. He
belongs to the working-class^ and he bore the bur-
dens of poverty for himself and the Holy Family,
whose tender and vigilant head he was. To him was
entrusted the Divine Child when Herod loosed his
assassins against Him. In a life of faithful per-
formance of everyday duties, he left an example
for all those who must gain their bread by the toil
of their hands. He won for himself the title of
"The Just," serving thus as a living model of that
Christian justice which should reign in social life.
82. With eyes lifted on high, our Faith sees the
new heavens and the new earth described by Our
first Predecessor, St. Peter. ^^ While the promises of
the false prophets of this earth melt away in blood
and tears, the great apocalyptic prophecy of the
Redeemer shines forth in heavenly splendor : "Be-
hold, I make all things new."^''
Venerable Brethren, nothing remains but to
raise Our paternal hands to call down upon you.
•^'' Acts, Iv. 12,
*8Encvcl. Ubi Arra7w, Dec. 23, 1922 (A. A. S, Vol XTV 1^22
p. 691).
4»II Epist. St. Petee, ITT, 13; cf. Isaias, LXV, 17 and LXVT, 22:
Apoc. XXI, 1.
soApoc. XXT, 5.
55
56
Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
upon your clergy and people, upon the whole Cath-
olic family, the Apostolic Benediction.
Given at Rome, at St. Peter^s, on the feast of St.
Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, the nine-
teenth day of March, in the year 1937, the sixteenth
of Our Pontificate.
PIUS PP. XI.